Man arrested for armed robbery in Geylang Bahru after extensive manhunt

SINGAPORE - A 35-year-old man suspected of committing armed robbery at Geylang Bahru has been arrested by the police.

On Dec 1 at about 4.15pm, the suspect wielded a penknife at a 33-year-old Chinese woman who was alone in her car at an open carpark and demanded that she move to the front passenger seat.

The suspect then drove the car to the upper deck of a multi-storey carpark nearby and proceeded to rob the victim after parking the car.

Besides robbing her of a smart phone, a wrist watch valued at about $2,000, ATM cards, a credit-card, about S$200 and US$200 in cash, the man also forced the victim to reveal her PIN for her ATM cards, which she did so in fear of her safety.

The woman, who was later tied up with adhesive tape, managed to free herself and contacted the police at 4.40pm.

The ensuing manhunt operation was initially conducted by the Central Police Division, but it was gradually extended to all parts of Singapore with the support of officers from the Police Intelligence Department and Police's Public Transport Security Command.

Officers discovered a man fitting the culprit's description while reviewing CCTV footage recorded on Dec 1. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the suspect while he was at work on Dec 4 at about 3.25pm.

The suspect, who was performing general contractual work in a building at Scotts Road, had no chance to react when the officers arrested him.

He was searched and found to be in possession of the victim's ATM cards and credit card, and cash comprising S$22 and US$1. Officers where then led to a unit along Geylang Bahru where they recovered a wrist watch, believed to belong to the victim.

The suspect will be charged in Court on Dec 6 for armed robbery.

grongloh@sph.com.sg