Police have arrested five Bangladeshi men, aged 27- 32 years, who are believed to have robbed two moneychanger couriers of RM $500,000/- on 27 May 2010 .

On 27 May 2010 at about 2.00 a.m. , two Malaysian couriers employed by moneychangers arrived at a unit located at Blk 50 Dorset Road. They had intended to spend the night at the said unit before delivering their currencies to moneychangers in Singapore in the morning. However, when they entered the unit they were ambushed by six men wearing ski masks, one of whom brandished a knife. The two couriers tried to flee but one of them fell down in the process and was fisted by several of the suspects. The robbers then took off with a bag of cash containing RM $500,000/- belonging to the victims.

Upon being notified of the case, a task force led by ASP Chu Weng Kong, Officer-in-Charge of the Property Offenders Squad (POS), Tanglin Police Division, immediately swung into action. The task force conducted a careful study and analysis of the case, the modus operandi, the area of operations and the crime pattern. No effort was spared as officers from the Police Intelligence Department and Special Investigation Section of CID were roped in to provide assistance.

A detailed plan, including ambushes was formulated to apprehend one of the suspects at his favourite haunts. On the evening of 2 June 2010 , after several days of ambushes by members of the task force, the officers’ perseverance paid off when the suspect was finally sighted and arrested at Tessensohn Road .

Through investigative follow-up and extensive ground enquiries, the identities of three other suspects were subsequently established. On 3 June 2010 at about 1.15 a.m. , two of the suspects were arrested at Blk 10 Gloucester Road. Cash amounting to S$53,000/-, believed to be part of the stolen proceeds of crime, was also recovered. Working relentlessly, the fourth and fifth suspects were arrested on the same day at about 2.05 a.m. at Mackenzie Road and at 4.45 p.m. at Rowell Road , respectively.

The five suspects will be charged in Court on 4 June 2010 for an offence of Gang Robbery with Deadly Weapons under Section 395 read with Section 397 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. This offence carries an imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years and shall be punished with caning of not less than 12 stokes. A court order will be sought to have them remanded for further investigations. Investigations are on-going to trace the remaining suspect involved in the case.

Commander of Tanglin Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Koh Yak Leng commended his officers for their collaborative efforts, perseverance and excellent investigative work which resulted in the arrest of the culprits. He also stressed that Police will not hesitate to track down those who commit such offences and bring them to justice.