Bangladeshi charged with trying to rob Boon Lay pawnshop using cleaver, fake gun
The Bangladeshi national who allegedly attempted to rob a pawnshop armed with a cleaver and a replica gun, and later threatened to blow it up with a fake explosive, was charged in court on Friday (3 August).
Appearing via video link, Sheikh Md Razan, 29, had two charges – attempted armed robbery and exhibiting an imitation firearm while committing a scheduled offence – read out to him in Bengali.
Speaking through the translator, Sheikh claimed he was “drunk at the time”. “I did not throw them any knife or gun, but just the (fake) bomb,” he added.
Sheikh, a former construction worker who has been overstaying in Singapore since December last year, had attempted to rob a ValueMax pawnshop at Boon Lay MRT station last Saturday afternoon at around 4.30pm.
CCTV footage released by the police showed that he had disguised himself during the incident by wearing a pink turban.
According to court documents, Sheikh was armed with a cleaver – with a 21-cm long blade – when he tried to rob Ng Yah Ching, 48, the pawnshop’s branch manager, of cash and jewellery.
He also allegedly exhibited a “black gun-like object” to Ng, putting the latter “in fear of death”.
When Ng refused to comply, Sheikh threatened to blow up the shop with a fake explosive device made of “some electrical components”. The incident later led to the temporary closure of Exit C of the train station.
After throwing the device onto the pawnshop’s counter and fleeing the scene, Sheikh dumped the backpack, which contained the clothes and items he used during the crime, behind a potted plant at a Jurong West HDB block.
Several hours later, it was discovered by a resident, who made a police report.
Sheikh was subsequently arrested along Muscat Street on Wednesday at about 7pm after a five-day manhunt.
He will appear in court again next Friday.
If convicted of attempted armed robbery, Sheikh could face a jail term of between two and seven years and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
If convicted of exhibiting an imitation firearm when committing a scheduled offence, he could face a jail term of up to 10 years and at least three strokes of the cane.
Related stories:
Suspect in attempted Boon Lay pawn shop robbery used pink turban as part of disguise
Man allegedly threatens to blow up pawn shop outside Boon Lay MRT after failing to rob it
