Singapore: Two Indian nationals have been sentenced to five years and one month in prison, along with 12 strokes of the cane each, for robbing and assaulting two sex workers in hotel rooms during a holiday in Singapore earlier this year.

Arokkiyasami Daison, 23, and Rajendran Mayilarasan, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of voluntarily causing hurt while committing robbery, The Straits Times reported on Friday.

The court heard that the two men arrived in Singapore from India on April 24 for a vacation. Just two days later, while walking through the Little India area, they were approached by an unidentified man who offered them contact details of women providing sexual services.

Following this encounter, Arokkiyasami reportedly told Rajendran that they were short on money and proposed that they contact the women with the intention of robbing them, to which Rajendran agreed.

That same evening, the pair arranged to meet one of the women in a hotel room at around 6 pm. Once inside, they tied the woman’s hands and legs using clothing, slapped her, and stole jewellery, S$2,000 in cash, her passport, and bank cards.

Later that night, at around 11 pm, the duo met a second woman in another hotel. Upon her arrival, they grabbed her by the arms and restrained her, with Rajendran covering her mouth to stop her from screaming. They then stole S$800 in cash, two mobile phones, and her passport, warning her not to leave the room until they returned.

Their crimes came to light when the second victim confided in another man the following day, prompting him to alert the police.

During court proceedings, both men, who were unrepresented, pleaded for leniency. Speaking through an interpreter, Arokkiyasami told the court, “My father passed away last year. I have three sisters, one of whom is married, and we have no money. That is why we did this.” Rajendran added, “My wife and child are alone in India, and they are financially suffering.”

Under Singaporean law, individuals convicted of voluntarily causing hurt during robbery face a prison term of between five and 20 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

PTI