Jail, caning for mastermind of jewellery shop robbery

M. Jegatheesh was brought back to Hock Cheong Jade and Jewellery shop by the police on Aug 21 last year. He was jailed for three years and three months and sentenced to six strokes of the cane yesterday for his role in the robbery on Aug 14 last year
M. Jegatheesh was brought back to Hock Cheong Jade and Jewellery shop by the police on Aug 21 last year. He was jailed for three years and three months and sentenced to six strokes of the cane yesterday for his role in the robbery on Aug 14 last year. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

The mastermind of a brazen daylight robbery at an Ang Mo Kio jewellery store last year was jailed for three years and three months and sentenced to six strokes of the cane yesterday after making off with nearly $120,000 worth of valuables.

M. Jegatheesh, 28, had conspired with two other men, Sharavindran Suppiah, 32, and Veeramani Subran Das, 37, the court heard. All three are Singaporeans.

Yesterday, Jegatheesh pleaded guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to rob Hock Cheong Jade and Jewellery shop at Block 574 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 on Aug 14 last year.

Sharavindran admitted to offences including dishonestly receiving the stolen property and will be sentenced today.

Veeramani, who drove the getaway car, was sentenced to three years' jail with six strokes of the cane on Nov 2 after pleading guilty to his role in the heist.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Thiagesh Sukumaran and Jeremy Bin said that Jegatheesh met the two others in Geylang around 9pm on Aug 13 last year to plan the jewellery shop robbery.

The court heard that Jegatheesh targeted the shop as it looked old and assumed that it was not installed with an alarm system. He was also aware that the owners, Mr Ling Hew Kwong, 70, and his brother, Mr Leng Yew Weng, 75, "were of advanced age".

The following day, on Aug 14, Veeramani met Jegatheesh in a car at a carpark near Block 521 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 around 2.40pm.

Jegatheesh entered the store around 4pm and tried to pull down the roller shutter at its entrance.

When it got stuck midway, he shouted at Mr Ling and his brother and jumped over a jewellery counter.

Amid the commotion, the two shop owners managed to press the hidden alarm buttons to alert an external security firm about the robbery.

The DPPs said that Jegatheesh then "swept the jewellery, including gold necklaces, bracelets, and pendants, into his duffle bag".

The two shop owners did not confront Jegatheesh as he was bigger than them. Mr Ling, however, shouted for help, alerting two people nearby, and one of them called the police.

Jegatheesh dashed out of the store with his loot and got into the car driven by Veeramani. The two men parted ways at an Ang Mo Kio carpark. Veeramani went on to meet Sharavindran later that day.

The police managed to arrest all three and recovered the stolen valuables.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 13, 2020, with the headline Jail, caning for mastermind of jewellery shop robbery. Subscribe