Police have arrested a 21-year-old man who is believed to be responsible for a case of robbery which occurred at Pearl Bank in the early hours of 2 June 2010.

On 2 June 2010 at about 1.15am, the victim, a 26-year-old Chinese woman, was walking along Pearl Bank when an unknown man suddenly grabbed her from behind and placed a sharp object at the back of her neck. The man then pushed the victim to the ground before relieving her of her mobile phone and cash of about $400. When the man spotted a passer-by in the vicinity, he immediately fled towards the direction of Outram Park MRT station. The victim was unhurt and Police were then alerted to the incident.

Following the report, officers from Central Police Division conducted extensive ground enquiries and intelligence probes and managed to establish the identity of the suspect. The suspect was subsequently arrested at Tuas Avenue 9 on 7 June 2010 at about 1.30 pm. Preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspect is believed to be involved in other similar cases in the vicinity of Outram Road.

The suspect will be charged in Court on 9 June 2010 for the offence of Armed Robbery under Section 397 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, he can be sentenced to a maximum imprisonment term of ten years and caning of not less than 12 strokes.

Acting Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Adrian Quek commended his officers for their excellent investigative follow-up resulting in the arrest of the suspect, and reiterated that the Police will spare no efforts to track down the perpetrators of such crimes and bring them to justice.