SINGAPORE: A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for robbing an elderly woman in 2014. He had made off with her purse and S$22.
The 88-year-old woman eventually died from head injuries sustained during the fracas.
Muhammed Fazrie Mohamad Ridzuan, then-22 years old and unemployed, spotted Madam Lee Ping Yeng buying food at a Teck Whye Lane coffeeshop on the morning of Apr 12, 2014. With only S$1.80 in his pocket to buy food for his girlfriend’s daughter, Fazrie decided to rob the “weak and frail-looking” Mdm Lee, whom he viewed as “an easy target”, the court heard.
He secretly followed Mdm Lee to Block 115 Teck Whye Lane and entered the lift with her. When the lift reached the ninth floor, Fazrie said “Sorry auntie”, before forcefully snatching Mdm Lee’s purse from her and running away. Fazrie emptied Mdm Lee’s purse containing S$22 and threw the purse in a dustbin nearby.
Fazrie handed the money to his girlfriend, who used it to buy drinks and cigarettes. He was arrested more than two weeks later, having been identified via CCTV footage that had captured Fazrie snatching Mdm Lee’s purse and running away, as well as Mdm Lee falling and hitting her head on the floor.
Mdm Lee, who lost her balance and fell out of the lift as Fazrie forcefully snatched her purse from her, hit the back of her head and body against the floor of the lift landing. She was found motionless by two neighbours, who called an ambulance.
The 88-year-old woman eventually died from head injuries sustained during the fracas.
Muhammed Fazrie Mohamad Ridzuan, then-22 years old and unemployed, spotted Madam Lee Ping Yeng buying food at a Teck Whye Lane coffeeshop on the morning of Apr 12, 2014. With only S$1.80 in his pocket to buy food for his girlfriend’s daughter, Fazrie decided to rob the “weak and frail-looking” Mdm Lee, whom he viewed as “an easy target”, the court heard.
He secretly followed Mdm Lee to Block 115 Teck Whye Lane and entered the lift with her. When the lift reached the ninth floor, Fazrie said “Sorry auntie”, before forcefully snatching Mdm Lee’s purse from her and running away. Fazrie emptied Mdm Lee’s purse containing S$22 and threw the purse in a dustbin nearby.
Fazrie handed the money to his girlfriend, who used it to buy drinks and cigarettes. He was arrested more than two weeks later, having been identified via CCTV footage that had captured Fazrie snatching Mdm Lee’s purse and running away, as well as Mdm Lee falling and hitting her head on the floor.
Mdm Lee, who lost her balance and fell out of the lift as Fazrie forcefully snatched her purse from her, hit the back of her head and body against the floor of the lift landing. She was found motionless by two neighbours, who called an ambulance.
