Robber gets 3 years, 12 strokes

A man who robbed a construction worker of his mobile phone and wallet with an accomplice was sentenced to three years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane yesterday.

Muhammad Maliki Kalim, 25, a part-time mover, admitted robbing Chinese national Li Ye Chuan, 47, of his belongings, totalling $145, with Muhammad Fazil Rahman in Guillemard Road at about 3.40am on July 21.

Fazil, 36, has been charged and his case is due for further pre-trial conference on Friday.

The court heard that Maliki and Fazil were walking along Guillemard Road when Maliki bumped into Mr Li, who came from the opposite direction. Mr Li immediately apologised to the duo.

Fazil punched him in the right eye, mouth and nose area, and on the back. When Mr Li realised he was bleeding, he used his hands to shield himself. As a result of the punches, he fell to the ground and was robbed of his mobile phone and wallet.

Mr Li suffered a blowout fracture to his right eye and had double vision. He later called the police, who conducted a search and found the two men in a coffee shop near Lorong 6, Geylang.

Pleading for leniency, Maliki's lawyer, Mr Winston Quek, said his client has a serious medical condition in both eyes and had undergone surgery. He added that his client was a "very passive participant" in the whole episode.

Maliki could have been given three to 14 years' jail plus a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane for robbery committed after 7pm and before 7am.

This article was first published on Dec 16, 2014.
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