Man jailed, caned for robbing Vietnamese woman

SINGAPORE: A fruit seller was sentenced to four years’ jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Thursday for robbing a woman whom he had paid for sex.

49—year—old Quek Pheng Hock also robbed the Vietnamese woman of her handphone and S$1,700 worth of cash.

The father of one pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.

Another similar charge has been taken into consideration.

On 23 September this year, Quek met the 33—year—old woman at a pub in Geylang and paid her S$250 for sex.

When they reached the hotel room, Quek told her to wait there while he called his friends to pass him money.

But when the woman tried to leave, Quek waved a flip knife at her.

In the process, he cut her left middle finger and left palm.

He then made her hand over her handphone and money, and threatened to kill her if she left the room.

In mitigation, Quek, who was unrepresented, admitted that he had consumed some alcohol prior to the incident.

Quek then told the court that he "hoped for another chance."

But Deputy Public Prosecutor Vincent Ong argued that Quek’s intoxicated state was an aggravating factor instead.

He highlighted that Quek had placed his victim in an "extreme high state of fear" and had injured her.

The court also heard that the stolen items were not recovered.

— CNA/xq