A Chilean visitor, who allegedly threw chocolate sauce on his victim before stealing from him, was yesterday charged in court with two other compatriots.

They are accused of stealing more than $3,000 in cash in Singapore on Sept 11.

Manuel Jesus Cifuentes Villagran, 38, Marcelo Atilio Arancibia Sanchez, 40, and Julio Adolfo Arancibia Pineda, 69, are each accused of two counts of theft.

Sanchez was also charged with one count of using criminal force.

He is accused of throwing chocolate sauce onto Singaporean Liu Hock Kian at the Parkroyal on Pickering hotel near Chinatown around 12.14pm that day. He allegedly did this to distract his victim.

A minute later, the trio allegedly worked together to steal $1,200 in cash and a carbon copy of an OCBC deposit slip from Mr Liu.

The three Chileans are said to have committed theft again about three hours later on board SBS Transit service 100 as the bus was travelling towards VivoCity shopping centre.

This time, they allegedly stole items including HK$11,000 (S$1,920) and an OCBC cheque for $900 from another Singaporean, Mr Mah Yee Wei.

Sanchez is represented by lawyer Amarjit Singh Sidhu while the two others are unrepresented.

Court papers did not mention how the trio allegedly committed the theft. District Judge Adam Nakhoda offered the trio bail of $10,000 each and they will be back in court on Oct 5.

Offenders convicted of theft can be jailed for up to three years and fined on each charge.