Jail for man who snatched bag containing S$61,000, claimed he was helping friend recover his money
Source: TODAY
SINGAPORE -- Approached by a friend to help retrieve some money that was purportedly held by a third man, Liu Shunli agreed.
When the duo met up with this person, Liu snatched a haversack containing S$61,000 from him, before subsequently handing over the bag to his friend.
Liu and the friend, Wang Zongpeng, who are both Chinese nationals, were nabbed at Changi Airport the next day when they were headed back to China.
On Tuesday (March 26), Liu, 42, was sentenced to a jail term of 17 months after pleading guilty to one count of using criminal force to commit theft.
Wang's case is still before the courts.
The court heard that Liu was in Singapore on a social visit pass when he met up with his friend and compatriot, Wang.
On Dec 25 last year, the duo went to Boon Lay Place Market and Food Village to meet Mr Cheng Ziyang.
Investigations revealed that Wang and Mr Cheng had agreed to meet to negotiate a private arrangement to remit money from Singapore to China, said State Prosecuting Officer Teo Keng Beng.
Wang had allegedly told Liu to be nearby during the negotiation. If it fell through, Wang allegedly said he would signal to Liu to snatch Mr Cheng's bag. Liu agreed.
Wang and Mr Cheng did not come to an agreement, and when the latter got up to leave, Wang allegedly snatched his haversack, resulting in a tussle.
At Wang's signal, Liu grabbed the bag and ran away, with Wang allegedly helping to restrain Mr Cheng so that he could not give chase.
Liu and Wang met up again afterwards, and Liu then passed the haversack to Wang. Wang allegedly took out the S$61,000 in cash from the bag before throwing away the bag and the rest of its contents.
Wang later allegedly transferred the money into a bank account.
Mr Cheng called the police on the same day, and the pair was arrested at Changi Airport the next day before they could leave for China.
Liu attended the hearing via a video link from his place of remand on Tuesday without any legal representation.
Pleading for leniency, he said he had came to Singapore to look for a job, adding that he has an ailing 89-year-old grandmother and a daughter at home to support.
Urging the court for a shorter custodial sentence, Liu said through an interpreter that he was willing to be caned if the jail term can be shortened.
He said that he did not ask for any money nor did he receive any compensation from Wang for his role in the crime.
District Judge Tan Jen Tse asked Liu why he complied with Wang's instructions if not for money.
Liu said that Wang told him that part of the money in the haversack belonged to Wang. As a friend, he naturally would help Wang get his money back, Liu added.
In delivering his decision, District Judge Tan said he accepted that Liu committed the offence to help a friend and not for personal gain.
He also noted that Liu had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and that the stolen money has been recovered.
However, given the large amount involved, a "substantial uplift" from the minimum one-year jail sentence should be imposed, the judge added.
For using criminal force to commit theft of property carried or worn by a person, Liu could have been sentenced to a jail term of between one and seven years, and liable to caning.