SINGAPORE — A 59-year-old fugitive wanted for an armed robbery more than 20 years ago was charged on Thursday (March 8), three days after his arrest in Malaysia.

Foo Siang Thian, a Singaporean, faces one count of armed robbery with common intention, an offence that carries a jail term of between two and 10 years, with up to 12 strokes of the cane.

The robbery took place on July 5, 1996 outside an OCBC bank branch near Block 65, Yuan Kuang Road, the police said in a news release on Wednesday night.

Court documents showed that the incident happened at around 11am, at the carpark of the block, and involved Foo and two other men: Lee Ai Eng, now 59, and How Meng Yan, now 65.

Foo and another man spotted their then 43-year-old victim Ang Teck Nguang heading back to his car after withdrawing money, the police said.

Two of them, wielding knives, robbed Ang of more than S$44,000. Court documents did not reveal which other man committed the robbery with Foo.

Foo’s two accomplices were dealt with after the incident, but Foo had remained at large.

How was sentenced to three years’ jail, with two strokes of the cane, while Lee was sentenced to three years’ and two months’ jail, with six strokes of the cane. Lee also faced a further six-month driving disqualification period for one count of vehicle theft.

The police said on Wednesday night that Foo was arrested on Monday with the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police, and was extradited to Singapore the next day. TODAY understands he was apprehended in Kuala Lumpur.

On Thursday, Foo, dressed in a black T-shirt, appeared in court unrepresented.

He will return to court on March 15. No bail was offered, and he remains in remand at the Jurong Police Division.