Singapore — Two Indian tourists have been sentenced to five years and one month in prison and 12 strokes of the cane each for robbing and assaulting two sex workers during their stay in Singapore earlier this year. The men, Arokkiyasami Daison, 23, and Rajendran Mayilarasan, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of voluntarily causing hurt while committing robbery, according to The Straits Times.
The pair arrived in Singapore on April 24 for a holiday. Two days later, while walking through the Little India area, they were approached by an unknown man who offered contact details of two sex workers. Instead of paying for services, the men conspired to rob the women to obtain money.
Their first attack took place that evening at around 6 p.m. after arranging to meet one of the women in a hotel room. Once inside, they tied her hands and legs with clothing, slapped her, and stole jewellery, SGD 2,000 in cash, her passport, and bank cards before fleeing.
Later that night, around 11 p.m., they set up a meeting with a second woman in another hotel. Upon her arrival, they dragged her into the room, covered her mouth to stop her from screaming, and stole SGD 800 in cash, two mobile phones, and her passport. They threatened her not to leave the room until they returned.
The crimes came to light the following day when the second victim confided in another man, who alerted the police. Both men were arrested and charged shortly afterward.
During mitigation, the defendants, who were unrepresented, pleaded for leniency. Speaking through an interpreter, Arokkiyasami said, “My father passed away last year. I have three sisters, one of whom is married, and we have no money. That is why we did this.” Rajendran added that his wife and child were alone in India and facing financial hardship.
Under Singaporean law, anyone who causes injury while committing robbery faces between five and 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of 12 strokes of the cane. The court imposed the minimum caning sentence and a prison term reflecting the gravity of the offences.