Robber in alleged staged robbery of Rivervale Kopitiam office charged, coffeeshop manager arrested for plotting
A 47-year-old man who allegedly made off with $20,000 from a food court after staging an armed robbery in cahoots with its manager was charged in the State Courts on Friday (8 March).
Tan Lye Meng, a Singaporean, is accused of robbing the management office of Kopitiam at Rivervale Mall, Block 11 Rivervale Crescent, on Saturday (3 March).
He is said to have used a knife against the manager of Kopitiam Rivervale Plaza, Lee Kah Yeow, 48, placing Lee in fear of hurt. Tan is said to have taken $6,000 of the booty.
Lee reported the alleged robbery to the police at about 11.50am on Saturday.
However, police officers later uncovered inconsistencies in Lee’s account, suggesting that the Kopitiam manager may have plotted the robbery. According to the police, Lee sought Tan’s assistance in the robbery scheme through the recommendation of a 51-year-old acquaintance.
Lee and the 51-year-old man have since been arrested for their suspected involvement in the staged robbery. They have not been charged in court.
Tan’s identity was established and he was arrested on Thursday.
Apart from his robbery charge, Tan has pending drug charges from 2018, including the consumption of methamphetamine and possession of drug utensils. He will be back in court on 15 March.
If convicted of armed robbery, Tan faces a jail term of between five and 20 years, and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
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