24-year-old man arrested for allegedly slashing woman, trying to rob her at Mountbatten Road

SINGAPORE — The police have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly slashing a woman with a shaving blade during an armed robbery attempt on Thursday (Nov 10) night.

The man will be charged on Saturday, the police said in a statement on Friday night.

The police were alerted to the case at 225 Mountbatten Road on about 8.30pm on Thursday.

A 64-year-old woman was crossing an overhead bridge there when the suspect purportedly approached her from the back, covered her mouth and demanded for money.

Preliminary investigations revealed that during the confrontation, the man allegedly slashed the woman on both her arms. She also suffered a cut on her neck and was taken conscious to the hospital.

“The woman did not suffer any monetary loss and is currently in a stable condition,” the police said.

Police officers managed to establish the identity of the suspect and arrest him within five hours of the reported incident through ground enquiries and the aid of closed-circuit television and police camera.

He will be charged with attempted armed robbery with hurt under Sections 394 and 397 of the Penal Code.

The offence carries an imprisonment term of not less than five years and not more than 20 years and with caning of not less than 12 strokes.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Wong, commander of Bedok Police Division, commended the officers for solving the case swiftly.

“The information provided by the victim was imperative to assisting the police in identifying and tracking down the man before he could harm others," he added.

“The police will spare no effort to arrest those who commit such violent crimes.”

The police also advised anyone who encounters a robbery to remain calm, take note of the physical appearance and any distinctive features of the perpetrator, and call for the police as soon as possible.