Woman has charge of dishonestly receiving $10k from firearm robbery withdrawn
A woman whose friend is linked to the first firearm robbery in Singapore in years had a charge of dishonestly retaining $10,000 stolen in the crime withdrawn earlier this month.
Nur Shana Mohd Taib, 35, was accused of receiving the sum from then-Aetos officer Mahadi Muhamad Mukhtar, 38, who allegedly robbed a licensed moneylender of more than $24,000 while armed with his service revolver.
Nur Shana was charged in April last year but after more than a year of legal proceedings, she was granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal following a pre-trial conference at the State Courts.
This means, she cannot be charged again with the same offence.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) on Thursday (Aug 18) said: "After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, the prosecution applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal in relation to the charge against (Nur Shana)."
It was granted by the court on Aug 4.
The AGC spokesman did not give the reasons behind the prosecution's application.
Mahadi had allegedly robbed OT Credit, a licensed moneylender in Block 135 Jurong Gateway Road, on April 12 last year.
Aetos is a security firm where some officers are issued with M85 Taurus revolvers.
Mahadi, who was not in uniform, is said to have shown a handwritten note that told OT Credit's employees that they were being robbed and that he was armed with a gun.
After taking the money, police said Mahadi reported for work at the Aetos headquarters in Corporation Drive.
Mahadi is accused of later depositing part of the stolen cash into Nur Shana's bank account. He was arrested within five hours of the robbery.
As his case is still pending, it has not been mentioned if the $10,000 sum has been recovered.
The robbery last year was the first time in 15 years that a gun was used in such an offence.
The last armed robbery involving a firearm happened in 2006 at a 4-D outlet at Sun Plaza shopping centre.
OT Credit was also targeted by armed robbers in November 2020 when a group of men armed with knives took $48,000 in cash.
The three men involved were later arrested and two were jailed.
The third man, who was a teenager at the time, was ordered to undergo reformative training, where offenders are detained and made to follow a strict regimen that can include foot drills and counselling.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now