Corpun file 24742 at www.corpun.com

The Straits Times, Singapore, 21 March 1973, p.7

Robber asks for more strokes, shorter jail term

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A REFORMATIVE Training Centre escapee, who asked a judge to double his caning and shorten his prison term, was jailed for five years and ordered to be given nine strokes of the rotan yesterday.

The Fourth District Judge, Mr E C. Foenander, told Koh Eng Kee, 19: "You have a thick hide to ask for more caning and a shorter prison term."

Koh jointly pleaded guilty with Ng Geok Lan, 20, to robbing a car from Booi Pang Chet and causing hurt to him in New Bridge Road on Jan. 14. Seven other robbery charges were taken into consideration.

Ng, who had one other robbery charge taken into consideration, was jailed for three years and given six strokes of the rotan. He is also an RTC escapee.

Complex

Senior Inspector D. Krishnan, prosecuting, said Booi parked his car beside the People's Park shopping complex and was waiting for his mother who was shopping. His two brothers, Pang Meng, aged six, and Pang Suan, four, were in the back seat.

Suddenly, Koh and Ng appeared, pushed Booi out of the car and stabbed him in the chest with a bearing-scraper. They drove away in the car with the children inside.

Pang Meng and Pang Suan were later found wandering at Gillman Circus and brought to the police.

Booi's car was found abandoned at track 33, Yio Chu Kang Road on Jan. 16. Its wheels, rear lights and battery were missing.

A month later, Koh was arrested at a coffee shop in Upper Weld Road. An hour after, Ng was arrested in Havelock Road.

In mitigation Koh said: "I am prepared to receive double caning but don't put me away in prison for too long."