Indian-Origin Man In Singapore Robs Petrol Station Employee At Knife Point:- In a much-shocking incident, an Indian-origin man in Singapore has allegedly robbed a petrol station worker at knife point.

According to police sources, this is the first such incident in a decade. The accused has been identified as Visvanathan Vaduvelu (48). Police said, from the Shell petrol station situated at 219 Upper Bukit Timah Road, he fled away with 1,193 Singapore dollars (USD 877) in cash.  

Vaduvelu threatened an employee with a kitchen knife and ordered her to place money from the cash register in a plastic bag, they said.

Police said that the incident, was the first such case in 10 years, which took place in broad daylight.

A leading news daily reported that Vaduvelu, who has been charged with committing armed robbery, faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and if found guilty, at least 12 strokes of caning.

At around 12.50 pm Singapore time, the police were alerted, after the suspect fled the petrol station on a scooter. He was tailed by a customer of the petrol station for a short distance, before the customer also informed the police. Even though, the suspect, during the robbery, was wearing a motorcycle helmet, the robbed Shell employee - a 22-year-old woman - remembered the color of his clothes.

On the same day of the robbery at about 4.50 PM along Jurong East Street 21, Vaduvelu was arrested. The police have seized about 500 dollars in cash, some bank receipts and a scooter. Along with these, a black T-shirt, a pair of long black pants, a beige jacket, a motorcycle helmet and a pair of sunglasses were also collected as evidence.

The police said, the weapon, a kitchen knife was not recovered as the suspect dropped it, as he was fleeing away from the crime scene. Vaduvelu was sent to remand without bail and his next hearing is scheduled to be held next week.

In as many days, this was the first of two armed robberies in Singapore.

According to a news channel, another armed robbery took place at a Western Union branch in Ubi estate, on Tuesday morning. The suspect fled on foot. It is reported that he has looted more than 2,000 dollar from Western Union employee at knife point.

The suspect is yet to be caught, according to media reports.

SUPRAJA