Two jailed for robbing money changer of over $600,000

Meticulous planning, right down to the escape route, and reconnaissance and adaptation to changes.

This had the making of a military operation but actually it was a nefarious scheme to rob a money changer.

For five months in 2014, a gang of eight plotted the robbery, even tailing the victim on days to find out his route.

They finally struck on Nov 5, 2014.

Five of them descended on Mr Ali Yousouf Saiboo's car, assaulted him and made off with over $600,000 - with the victim's terrified, two-year-old son watching from the front passenger seat.

The gang wore balaclavas and face masks. To avoid leaving behind their fingerprints, they also wore plasters on their fingers.

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As soon as they got their loot, the men made off in vehicles specially obtained for their getaway.

But three of them were arrested.

Yesterday, 29-year-old Malaysian Tachana Moorthy Peroma was jailed nine years and given 12 strokes of the cane.

Singapore permanent resident Annadurai Raman, 43, was sentenced to seven years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane.

District Judge Low Wee Ping said the robbery was carried out with military precision.

Their co-accused, 28-year-old Malaysia Ravi Sandhira Sagaran, had been sentenced to seven years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane last month.

The other five men, including the alleged grand mastermind Baskaran Balakrishnan, remain at large.

SURVEILLANCE

Court papers said Baskaran, Tachana and a few others first planned to rob couriers of a money-changing business in June 2014.

Tachana then roped in Annadurai.

In September, Annadurai conducted surveillance on Mr Ali, 35, who worked as the manager of his father-in-law's money-changing firm.

Annadurai observed that couriers from Mr Ali's company would put bags containing foreign and Singapore currencies into Mr Ali's car.

He then got on his motorcycle to tail Mr Ali and observe the route taken.

Annadurai reported his observations to Tachana and the rest, who did more reconnaissance on Mr Ali, finding out where he lived and familiarising themselves with his neighbourhood.

The gang initially planned to strike in October, but postponed the robbery several times for unknown reasons.

They eventually did it shortly after midnight on Nov 5, after Mr Ali had collected a bag containing $624,036 worth of Singapore and foreign currencies from his company courier.

Five of the robbers piled into a stolen Proton Wira and waited for Mr Ali, who had his son in the front passenger seat, to return to his home in Geylang .

But as Mr Ali drove into his carpark, he changed his mind and decided to head to his father-in-law's home at Aljunied Crescent.

The robbers immediately altered their plan and followed Mr Ali in their car.

As soon as Mr Ali parked at his destination, the gang drove the Proton Wira in front of Mr Ali's car to trap it in the lot.

The men got out and Saravanak Kumar Karunanithy used a 50cm crowbar bought by Annadurai to smash Mr Ali's window.

One of them also threatened to kill Mr Ali's son, while another reached into the car, opened the driver's door and removed the key from the ignition.

Mr Ali was dragged out and punched.

In clockwork fashion, another robber opened the car boot, while three others grabbed the two bags inside.

They got into the Proton Wira and headed back to Geylang where two getaway motorcycles were parked.

After moving the bags to Baskaran's and Tachana's vehicle which had also arrived at the location, seven of them fled to Malaysia.

Annadurai, who remained in Singapore, was arrested on Nov 8. Tachana and Ravi were nabbed in Malaysia four days later.

During Tachana's arrest, US$30,000 (S$43,000) and RM23,645 (S$8,000) were retrieved from his personal car.

The rest of the money has yet to be recovered.

Yesterday, Annadurai's lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan said his client had owed co-accused Baskaran money. He agreed to be part of the robbery because Baskaran had threatened to harm his family.

Tachana's lawyer, Mr Thangavelu, said his client did not participate in the actual robbery.

In sentencing, District Judge Low said there were planning, obtaining logistical support, carrying out surveillance and preparing getaway vehicles. The accused were even able to adjust their operations at the last minute.

The judge also noted Tachana to be the mastermind of the operation and said that even if Baskaran had been the alleged "grand mastermind", it would not be relevant to his case.

For committing gang robbery, each accused could have been jailed between five and 20 years with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.