Three friends alleged to have robbed a cabby for his coin pouch containing just $5 were charged with committing robbery with hurt on Monday.

According to the charge sheets read out to them in Malay in the district court, Muhammad Fauzi Fitri Kamaruzaman, 17, grabbed Abdul Latif's neck from behind while Muhammad Aizan Abdullah, 17, and Muhammad Istiqlal Hamdan, 16, each punched him three times in the face.

The trio were remanded until Feb 10 for investigations to be completed.

Police said the taxi driver had made a report that he had been assaulted and robbed on Japanese Garden Road at 1.40am on Sunday.

Using his description of his suspected attackers, investigators established their identities and whereabouts. Officers from Clementi Police Division arrested all three within eight hours of the report being lodged. If convicted, they could each be jailed between five and 20 years and be caned at least 12 times.