Indian man jailed for robbery in Singapore

Singapore, Nov 23 (IANS) An Indian man has been jailed for over four years and 20 weeks for robbing an Indian jeweller of cash and valuables worth 43,000 Singapore dollars.

Yelchur Sreenivas, 51, was robbed by Srinath Bari Ramdeo Bari and two accomplices near Towner Road as he was returning home on May 25 last year, the Strait Times reported on Thursday.

The sentence was announced by a court here on Wednesday. Bari, Venkatachalapathy Raman and Hassan used a wooden pole to repeatedly hit Sreenivas and robbed him of cash and valuables, the daily reported.

Bari also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to report for a urine test for drug checks and was given six months on each charge.

In lieu of the mandatory 12 strokes of the cane, 53-year-old Bari was given an additional 20 weeks' jail. He cannot be caned as he is above 50.

District Judge Jasvender Kaur ordered the sentences for the robbery and one of the urine tests to run consecutively, making a total of four years and 20 weeks in jail. She backdated his sentence to September 23, 2016.

The mastermind behind the robbery, Venkatachalapathy, 48, was sentenced to four years and three months' jail and 12 strokes of the cane. The third accomplice, Hassan, 36, has claimed trial.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Zulhafni Zulkeflee said Venkatachalapathy had specifically chosen Yelchur as he knew the victim was involved in jewellery business. Venkatachalapathy then roped in Hassan and Bari to commit the crime.

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