Teen Sentenced to Probation After Robbery Attempt in Punggol

 

A 17-year-old teenager was sentenced to 18 months of probation on March 4 for attempting to rob a man of more than $81,000 in cash. The youth, who was 16 at the time of the offense, used a knife in his failed robbery attempt.

As part of his sentence, he must complete 60 hours of community service, stay indoors from 10 PM to 6 AM daily, and his parents were bonded for $5,000 to ensure his good behavior. The teen pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery in January. Due to his age, he cannot be named under the Children and Young Persons Act.

The incident stemmed from an online job offer he received from a person known only as "Dilton" via Telegram in mid-November 2023. Dilton instructed him to “take money and run away” and advised him to buy a knife to intimidate the victim. However, the teen was not told how much he would be paid for carrying out the crime.

On November 18, 2023, at around 11 AM, Dilton informed the teen that he had to execute the robbery that day. The target was a man who was supposed to hand over cash for a cryptocurrency transaction arranged through Telegram. The teen was instructed to pretend to count the money before fleeing with it.

To prepare, Dilton transferred $100 to the teen’s bank account for purchasing a knife and covering transport expenses. The teen bought a knife in Bukit Merah, wrapped its handle with cloth to avoid leaving fingerprints, and concealed it in his waistband before heading to Punggol.

At 2:30 PM, he met the 33-year-old victim at the void deck of a block of flats. The man was carrying a paper bag containing $81,060 in cash, meant for a cryptocurrency purchase.

As the teen pretended to count the money, he suddenly grabbed the bag and ran. The victim chased after him, prompting the teen to attempt drawing his knife. However, the weapon slipped from his grip and fell to the ground. This allowed the victim to restrain him until the police arrived.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Jing Min detailed the case in court, noting that the teen had acted on instructions from an unidentified individual. The investigation into "Dilton" and the larger scheme behind the crime remains ongoing.

The case highlights the risks of anonymous job offers on messaging platforms, especially those involving illegal activities. While the teen avoided a harsher sentence, he must adhere to strict probation conditions. Authorities continue to warn against engaging in online scams or illegal schemes that could have severe legal consequences.