SINGAPORE: An Australian man was charged on Tuesday (Jun 4) with armed robbery at a licensed moneylending outlet in Tampines.
Jose Manuel Pacheco, 39, is accused of robbing a 32-year-old woman at Accredit Private Limited at Block 503, Tampines Central, while armed with a knife.
The alleged robbery took place at about 1.40pm on Jun 3.
According to a police statement, Pacheco was wearing a mask and cap when he robbed the victim at knifepoint, demanding that she place cash in a bag.
The police said the victim maintained her composure while preparing the money, remembering how the man looked and the clothes he wore.
Pacheco allegedly took S$6,095 from the woman.
While officers were on their way to the location, they obtained the detailed description of the perpetrator from the victim and saw a man who fit the description.
The police arrested Pacheco within half an hour of the alleged robbery and recovered the stolen cash in full, along with the knife.
The penalty for robbery is a jail term between two and 10 years, and at least six strokes of the cane. If the offender is armed during the robbery, he will be given at least 12 strokes of the cane.
Pacheco was offered bail of S$20,000 and the case was adjourned for completion of investigations.