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SINGAPORE – The mastermind of a blatant daylight robbery at an Ang Mo Kio jewelry store last year was jailed for three years and three months with six strokes of a cane on Thursday (November 12) after fleeing with nearly $ 120,000 in valuables.
M. Jegatheesh, 28, had conspired with two other men, Sharavindran Suppiah, 32, and Veeramani Subran Das, 37, the court heard. All three are Singaporean.
On Thursday, Jegatheesh pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to rob Hock Cheong Jade and the jewelry store in the 574 block of Ang Mo Kio 10 avenue on August 14 last year.
Sharavindran admitted to crimes, including dishonest receiving of stolen property, and will be sentenced on Friday.
Veeramani, who was driving the getaway car, was sentenced to three years in jail with six strokes of the cane on November 2 after pleading guilty to his role in the robbery.
Deputy Prosecutors Thiagesh Sukumaran and Jeremy Bin said Jegatheesh met with the other two in Geylang around 9 p.m. on Aug. 13 last year to plan the theft of the jewelry store.
The court heard that Jegatheesh targeted the store as it looked old, and assumed that it did not have an alarm system installed. He also knew that the owners, Mr. Ling Hew Kwong, 70, and his brother, Mr. Leng Yew Weng, 75, “were elderly”.
Prosecutors added: “Jegatheesh asked Veeramani to play the role of leak conductor and transport the gold to Sharavindran, and informed Veeramani that he would be paid for his role. Jegatheesh asked Sharavindran to help with the sale of the gold. . “
The next day, August 14, Veeramani met Jegatheesh in a car in a parking lot near Block 521 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 at around 2:40 p.m.
Jegatheesh arrived at the store around 4 PM and tried to lower the blind at the entrance.
When he got stuck midway, he yelled at Mr. Ling and his brother and jumped on a jewelry counter.
Amid the commotion, the two store owners managed to press hidden alarm buttons to alert an outside security company to the theft.
The DPP said Jegatheesh then “swept the jewelry, including the gold necklaces, bracelets and pendants, into her canvas bag.”
The two shop owners did not confront Jegatheesh, as he was bigger than them. Ling, however, yelled for help, alerting two nearby people, and one of them called the police.
Jegatheesh ran out of the store with his loot and got into a car driven by Veeramani.
The two men parted ways in a parking lot in Ang Mo Kio. Veeramani met with Sharavindran later that day.
The police managed to arrest all three and recovered the stolen valuables.
On Thursday, prosecutors urged the court to sentence Jegatheesh to three and a half years in prison with six strokes of the baton, noting that the robbery had caused “great public alarm.”
They added: “Jegatheesh was the main planner of the operation. He included Veeramani and Sharavindran in the operation and meticulously planned this offense.”
For theft, a criminal can be imprisoned for up to 10 years and receive at least six strokes of the baton.
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