StanChart robbery suspect jailed 14 months in Bangkok

SINGAPORE — Bank robbery suspect David James Roach, who fled to Bangkok after an alleged S$30,000 heist here in July last year, was sentenced to 14 months' jail by a Thai court Tuesday (June 6) for smuggling the money into Thailand.

The amount the 28-year-old Canadian took in violated money-laundering, Customs, and money exchange laws in Thailand, where the limit is US$20,000 (S$27,600). Roach is suspected of robbing a Standard Chartered branch in Holland Village on July 7 last year and was arrested in a Bangkok backpacker hostel three days later with about S$30,000.

The Singapore authorities have tried unsuccessfully to bring Roach back to assist in the robbery case investigations.

In response to TODAY's queries, the Ministry of Home Affairs reiterated its statement issued last year. "The Singapore authorities remain in touch with the Thai authorities on our request for the return of Roach and the seized evidence to Singapore."

TODAY understands that a fresh bid to repatriate Roach to Singapore may be possible only after he finishes serving his sentence. If he returns to Canada after his sentence, the authorities in Singapore will work with their Canadian counterparts to seek his return. Singapore does not have an extradition treaty with either country, while Thailand has an extradition treaty with Canada. WONG PEI TING