2 people, including 14-year-old boy, charged with robbing Katong Shopping Centre store with gun-shaped lighter

SINGAPORE — A 36-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were charged on Monday (Oct 17) with robbing a barber shop by threatening a man with a gun-shaped lighter at Katong Shopping Centre.

The incident occurred last Friday at an unnamed commercial unit at the mall along Mountbatten Road, the police said in a statement.

Court documents have identified the 36-year-old man as Ho Heen Seng, who is a Malaysian. The teenager cannot be named as the Children and Young Persons Act does not allow the publication of identities of offenders under 18.

It is not clear what is the relationship between Ho and the teen.

The police statement said that at about 9.55pm, the duo allegedly entered the unit and threatened Mr Abdul Razak Mohamed Maidin, 71, with a lighter shaped like an antique gun.

The duo allegedly restrained Mr Abdul Razak before taking about S$900 from him. They fled the scene after the victim shouted for help, but left the lighter behind at the scene. 

No one was hurt as a result of the robbery, said the police.

Aided by closed circuit television footage, police officers from the Bedok Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department established the identities of the duo and arrested them within 24 hours after a police report was made. 

The police eventually recovered the stolen cash from the duo.

Further investigations revealed their alleged involvement in another separate case of theft in a building along Sims Place on Oct 15 at about 12.30am.

The incident resulted in a 40-year-old woman losing two watches, a necklace and a bag. 

A 31-year-old woman was arrested for dishonestly receiving stolen property in connection with this incident, said the police.

One necklace was recovered from her.

If convicted for robbery committed after 7pm and before 7am, Ho and the teenager may be jailed between three and 14 years and given at least 12 strokes of the cane.

The offence of dishonestly receiving stolen property also carries a five-year jail term and a fine.

Anyone convicted for theft committed in any dwelling can be jailed up to seven years and a fine.