In a shocking case that has drawn significant attention, a 14-year-old boy, now 17, was sentenced to undergo at least one year of reformative training after he and a Malaysian accomplice orchestrated a robbery involving a sex worker in Singapore. The incident, which occurred in October 2022, involved a series of criminal acts that began with a plan to steal from a hairdresser.
Background of the Incident
The boy, a Chinese national residing in Singapore, was influenced by a Malaysian man, known as He, who had fallen into debt. The two had met in September 2022 when the boy visited a phone shop in Geylang, where He worked. Their relationship quickly developed, with the boy referring to He as “big brother” and He calling the boy “little brother.”
Initially, He proposed stealing from his two female flatmates, whom he suspected to be sex workers, believing they would not report the crime. However, the plan evolved when they decided to target a hairdresser with whom the boy had a previous dispute. On October 14, 2022, armed with a toy gun, He choked the hairdresser while the boy stole S$900 from the salon.
The Robbery of the Sex Worker
Dissatisfied with the small amount stolen, He and the boy devised a more elaborate scheme. They solicited a sex worker online, intending to incapacitate her with sleeping pills before stealing her valuables. The plan was executed when the boy met the sex worker at her unit, drugged her with a beer laced with sleeping pills, and allowed He to enter. They stole items valued at S$47,200, including two Rolex watches worth S$25,000 and S$15,000, respectively.
The crime was uncovered the following day when the sex worker reported the incident to the police.
Legal Consequences
On April 28, 2025, the court sentenced the boy to reformative training after he admitted to his involvement in the crimes. The Malaysian man, aged 38, received a more severe punishment of four years and nine months in prison, along with 24 strokes of the cane.
The boy faced a total of 16 charges, including theft and housebreaking, but pleaded guilty to six. The court also prohibited him from obtaining a driving license or driving in Singapore for a year, following an incident where he drove underage while on bail.
Reflections and Future Prospects
During the court proceedings, the boy’s counsel argued that he acted out of a desire for revenge against the hairdresser for insulting his girlfriend. The lawyer emphasized that the boy had learned his lesson and expressed a hope for the opportunity to continue his education.
This case highlights the serious implications of criminal behavior among youth and the importance of addressing underlying issues that lead to such actions. The community is left to ponder the factors that contribute to such drastic decisions by young individuals and the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.