SINGAPORE, May 2 — The knife-wielding robber who made off with several hundreds of dollars from a Western Union branch last August was jailed for four years and nine months today, after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Hashim Hamzah, 58, who was charged with armed robbery and possession of heroin, was arrested following a three-day manhunt. He had entered the Western Union branch, which offers money-transfer services, at Block 301, Ubi Avenue 1, donning a helmet and a mask to hide his identity.
Wielding a knife, Hashim was said to have ordered an employee — who was working alone at that time — not to shout, and demanded for money. He initially took about S$4,000 (RM11,781) but he eventually fled on a bicycle with only S$654 in a bag after dropping some of the cash.
It was earlier reported that he made off with S$1,071 but investigations found that the amount was lower. The rest of the money was later recovered near the carpark area behind the branch.
The female employee was not hurt, and there was no other person at the outlet at the time.
Anyone convicted of armed robbery faces a jail term of between two and 10 years and up to 12 strokes of cane.
The police had trawled through closed circuit TV footage provided by members of the public in various housing estates, including private estates, shophouses and eateries, to track the suspect down.
Based on court documents, police’s further investigations revealed that after Hashim had fled the scene, he rode the bicycle towards Bedok Central. There, he proceeded to the UK Credit branch located at Blk 210 Bedok North to repay a loan of S$400.
According to Hashim, he spent the remainder of the loot on food, drinks, cigarettes, 4D tickets and heroin. He was eventually left with S$34.30.
Hashim had disposed of some the items used in the robbery — a white helmet, blue jacket, red and white plastic bags, and a hacksaw blade. The bicycle which he rode to the branch was recovered near Block 216 Bedok North Street 1. — TODAY
