Singapore: Two Indian men were sentenced to five years and one month in prison each by a court in Singapore on Friday for assaulting and robbing two sex workers in hotel rooms. The two also received 12 strokes of the cane each, after they pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to the victims while robbing them.
According to The Straits Times, Arokkiyasami Daison (23) and Rajendran Mayilarasan (27), travelled to Singapore from India on September 24 for a holiday,
They were walking around in the Little India area two days later when they were approached by an unknown person, who inquired if they were interested in hiring sex workers. He then provided the two Indians contact details of two women.
Arokkiyasami is reported to have told Rajendran that they were in need of money and suggested a plan to contact the women and tell them to come to the hotel, where they would rob them.
Rajendran agreed and the two arranging to meet one of the women in their hotel room in Jalan Besar in the evening. When the woman arrived, they tied her hands and feet with some clothing and hit her. The two then robbed her of about SD 2000 and jewellery. The two also took away her passport and credit cards.
Arokkiyasami and Rajendran then contacted the other woman, arranging to meet her at another hotel on Desker Road around 11 pm the same day. When she arrived, the men dragged her by the arms and covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.
They stole SD 800 in cash, two mobile phones and her passport, and threatened her not to leave the hotel room, saying they would return.
The two had probably believed that the women would not go to the authorities as what they were doing was also illegal. While the first woman preferred to remain silent, the second one informed another man about the incident a day later, following which the police were informed and the accused apprehended.
During the hearing, the accused, who were unrepresented, pleaded to be shown leniency and be handed a lighter sentence. Arokkiyasami told the judge that his father had passed away last year. “I have three sisters, one of whom is married, and we have no money,” he said, adding that his wife and child were alone in India. He further said that his family was not financially stable.
Those convicted of voluntarily causing hurt while committing a robbery can be handed a sentence between five years and 20 years, and receive at least 12 strokes of the cane, according to The Straits Times report.
