32-year-old Imran Zulkhifi, was sentenced on 30 October to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment, as well as 12 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to one charge of robbery.
The unemployed man got into an argument with his parents over his joblessness, and robbed a minimart along Pasir Ris Street 11 with a knife, placing the weapon on the neck of the employee and demanding all the money he had, according to Shin Min Daily News.
What happened?
Imran, who had been unemployed for a long period, got into an argument with his parents, who were upset that their jobless son always stayed at home instead of looking for a job.
He grabbed $150 in cash before storming out of the house after the fight, using the money to buy some cigarettes and going to an internet cafe overnight.
The following afternoon, he was left with just $10.
A Desperate Robbery Plan
Imran then contemplated robbing a minimart for money and set his plans in motion, choosing that particular outlet because he knew the area, and that the minimart would only have a single worker on duty at night, planning to kill the worker with a knife that he had with him inside his sling bag, if he refused to cooperate.
He then scouted the vicinity and the reaction time of the police, so that he could plan his escape from the scene he did so by calling the police about a “suspicious man” near the minimart.
He timed the police and estimated that he had about 30 minutes to flee from the scene.
The Heist
In the early hours of February 1, 2023, around 1:46 a.m., Imran put his plan into action. He stealthily entered the minimart, approached the employee from behind, and brandished the knife.
The employee, taken by surprise, was threatened with the knife, leading to a terrifying ordeal. Fearful for his life, the employee complied and handed over all the money from the cash register.
After successfully escaping with S$580 in hand, Imran discarded the black jacket he had worn as a disguise. Despite his attempts to cover his tracks, the police managed to track him down and apprehend him the following evening, with only S$276 of the stolen money remaining.
The Traumatized Employee
The victim impact statement presented in court shed light on the emotional aftermath of the incident.
The minimart employee was deeply traumatized by the robbery, to the point where he became paranoid in everyday situations.
He even hid under the counter at one point, mistaking a customer’s hand gesture for a potential threat.