Jail, cane for trying to steal phone

He choked a teenage girl from behind while trying to rob her of her mobile phone.

Radin Rizwan Radin Rosman, 24, was yesterday jailed for five years and given 12 strokes of the cane for attempted robbery and voluntarily causing hurt to Miss Grace Lee Shi Min on Nov 27 last year.

When he snatched her phone at Gardenia Road, near Thomson Plaza, at around 10pm, Miss Lee, 18, struggled and shouted for help. She fainted after he choked her.

Nearby residents Adrienne Chew Dan and Marienne Chew Tong, both 20, heard Ms Lee's shouts, and alerted their father.

Mr Chew Kim Soon, 51, chased and caught Rizwan while his daughters called the police.

Ms Lee was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital with scalp and neck injuries.

Rizwan's lawyer said he had not planned to choke the girl and had robbed her only out of desperation.

However, District Judge Lee Poh Choo said his actions were clearly violent.

For voluntarily causing hurt in attempting to commit robbery, Rizwan could have been jailed for five to 20 years, with at least 12 strokes of the cane. - Tan Tam Mei