Learn how officers from Clementi Police Division swiftly apprehended the perpetrators of a robbery of a moneylender in Jurong East.
By: Rose Maswida
Hello, Police?
On the afternoon of 19 November 2020, the Police responded to a call that three men had robbed a licensed moneylender at Jurong East. The complainant was working alone when she was threatened at knifepoint to hand over cash. The robbers subsequently locked her inside a room at the back of the shop before fleeing with $48,000 in cash.
Officers from Clementi Police Division sprang into action, leading an operation involving multiple Police units and tapping on Police Cameras (PolCam) to swiftly track down and bring the suspects to justice.
Executing the Heist
Investigations revealed that the plan to rob the moneylender was hatched in early November by Karrtik S/O Stalnirah, Tusheintar Segaran and Kotta Kumar Jeswanth. After failing to secure a loan, they decided to rob a moneylender shop.
Tusheintar entered the shop at 12pm, to do a “recce”. He later informed his accomplices that there was only one lady working at the moneylender at that time.
The trio continued to observe the shop from outside for a few hours. Karrtik, feeling impatient, made the decision to rob it immediately and they entered the shop without their helmets.
The situation escalated quickly when Jeswanth grabbed the staff by her hair while holding a knife and demanded that she hand over money while Tusheintar kept a lookout.
Karrtik searched the shop until he found the safe. He then compelled the staff to open it and took all the cash inside.
After this, Jeswanth dragged the victim into a room and locked her in before fleeing.
An Island-wide Manhunt
While officers from Clementi Police Division made ground enquiries, the Police Operations Command Centre (POCC) leveraged the PolCams to identify the suspects and track their movement.
The trio were spotted at a Woodlands void deck, accompanied by another person, Arunasalam S/O Kannan, who arranged for their transport and aided the three men to evade detection from the Police. Officers then traced the four men to a cemetery in Lim Chu Kang where they divided their ill-gotten gains, after which they returned to Arun’s residence in Woodlands. There, Karrtik, Tusheintar and Jeswanth left.
Police officers arrested Arun at his residence. The three suspects were caught on a PolCam in Geylang, where Police officers apprehended Karrtik and Jeswanth. Tusheintar managed to slip away but was finally arrested in Sembawang.
The coordinated efforts of officers from Clementi Police Division and the POCC ensured the apprehension arrest of all suspects, bringing swift justice within 10 hours of the robbery.
Karrtik, Tusheintar and Jeswanth were convicted for their crimes and received sentences ranging from 12 months of reformative training, to five years and three months’ imprisonment, with 12 strokes of the cane. Arunasalam was convicted of retaining and aiding in the disposal of stolen property and sentenced to three months and three weeks’ imprisonment.
Crime Files
Police Life brings you actual investigations that Police officers have pursued to keep Singapore safe and secure. Watch a reenactment of this case on Crimewatch, Episode 4, 2023!
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