Money changer robbery: Accused remanded in jail

The first man to be charged over the brazen robbery of a money changer has been remanded in prison after failing to raise his $600,000 bail.

The court heard that permanent resident Annadurai Raman, 42, was no longer needed in police custody, though police objected to bail being granted because they believed he was involved with a Malaysian syndicate.

However, they proposed the $600,000 figure if the court decided to make an offer.

Annadurai, from Malaysia, is accused of of robbing money changer Ali Yousouf Saiboo, 35, of more than $600,000 in the carpark of Block 110, Aljunied Crescent.

He is said to have committed the crime at around 12.50am on Nov 5, together with Malaysians Tachana Moorthy Peromal, 28, and Ravi Sandhira Sagaran, 27.

Five other unidentified suspects remain at large.

Annadurai's case will next be mentioned on Dec 19, after District Judge Lim Tse Haw granted a request by police for a four-week adjournment to conduct investigations into the other two men, who were each slapped with three additional charges on Thursday for separate instances of abduction, robbery and theft.

They will next appear in court on Nov 27.

Annadurai's lawyer, Mr Louis Joseph, asked for the same four-week postponement so that he could make representations.

The penalty for robbery and voluntarily causing hurt in the process is a jail term of between five and 20 years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane.

Those who commit robbery while armed with a deadly weapon face caning of at least 12 strokes, in addition to other punishments.

pohian@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Nov 22, 2014.
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