Corpun file 7503 at www.corpun.com

The Straits Times, Singapore, 24 July 2001

Carjacker's jail term cut

By Alethea Lim
Court Correspondent

A SERIAL carjacker, who appealed against his 26-year sentence, has had four years cut from it.

But Lim Lye Kim, 24, who used chemical sprays to blind his victims temporarily, will still be behind bars for 22 years.

He will still receive the maximum 24 strokes of the cane meted out by the High Court.

Lim and his two accomplices forced unsuspecting drivers to stop, robbed them at knifepoint and drove off in their cars which they sold.

In May last year, the gang carried out three armed robberies in two days.

Lim had been involved in at least seven robberies since November 1998 and stole five cars.

On May 28 last year, at 1 am, he and his accomplices stabbed a motorist five times in Bukit Timah Road when he refused to hand over his car keys. The victim survived.

About two hours later, the gang tailed another motorist, confronting him at a Choa Chu Kang coffeeshop at gunpoint.

In the High Court in May, Lim pleaded guilty to charges of being with an accomplice who carried a gun unlawfully, robbing with hurt and attempting armed robbery with hurt.

Seven other charges were taken into consideration.

Lim's counsel, Mr Raymond Lye, said that his client, who ran off to Hongkong, had shown "genuine remorse" by returning to Singapore and surrendering to the police.

Corpun file 7506 at www.corpun.com

The Straits Times, Singapore, 28 July 2001

Stepdad raped girl for 5 years from age seven

Calling the case horrid and distressing, judge sentences him to 19 years' jail and maximum 24 strokes of the cane

By Alethea Lim
Court Correspondent

JUST a year after he married the mother of a seven-year-old girl, he started raping his stepdaughter.

For five years, the sexual abuse continued.

His crimes came to light only about six months ago when the girl confided in her classmates.

Yesterday, the 40-year-old factory operator was sentenced to 19 years' jail and the maximum 24 strokes of the cane.

Calling the case 'horrid and distressing', Justice M.P.H. Rubin said the stepfather had chosen to abuse and sexually violate the girl to satisfy his lust instead of providing support for her.

'The pain and agony you have caused a young victim can't be understated,' added the judge.

The stepfather pleaded guilty to three counts of rape. Another four rape charges, a molest charge and another for possession of obscene VCDs were taken into consideration.

He cannot be named as it would expose his stepdaughter's identity.

The man first raped the girl sometime in 1997, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Nasser Ismail told the court. Sometime last year, while his wife was at work, he raped her again in his bedroom.

He did it yet again on Dec 31 that year, when his wife was attending her company's dinner.

Then, on Feb 5 this year, when his wife was at work, he entered the girl's bedroom while she was sleeping and molested her.

He also tried to kiss her, and when she resisted, he put his hands around her neck and choked her. Frightened, she complied. He then raped her.

The court heard that she did not tell her mother about the incident, but confided in her classmates the next morning.

Her teacher and principal later told the girl's mother, who then accompanied her daughter to make a police report.

The girl's stepfather was arrested the same day.

He admitted in court yesterday that he had 'done something very, very stupid' and asked for forgiveness.

Asking for a deterrent sentence, DPP Mohamed Nasser said that the man's behaviour was 'vile, depraved and heinous'.

The maximum penalty for a single count of rape is 20 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane.

In this case, the judge ordered that two of the man's sentences run consecutively.

Corpun file 7516 at www.corpun.com

The Straits Times, Singapore, 31 July 2001

Man gets six years' jail for robbery, assault

For snatching his 66-year-old victim's waist pouch and punching in broad daylight, he was also sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane

A MAN who punched his 66-year-old victim on the shoulder during a robbery, was yesterday sentenced to six years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane for robbery with hurt.

Teo Chee Wee, 22, who pleaded guilty to the charge, fled with $7,725 which was in Mr Yeo Ah Pong's waist pouch.

But he was caught a short while later by two men who heard Mr Yeo's cries for help.

Another charge of criminal intimidation was considered in sentencing: Teo had pointed a 10-cm-long paper cutter at the two male passers-by who had chased after him, and suggested that they mind their own business.

Teo was also jailed one year for possessing drugs.

The jail terms will run consecutively.

The court heard that on April 19 at about 10.30 am, Mr Yeo was walking along Hillview Terrace, off Hillview Avenue, on his way to his son's factory.

Suddenly, Teo pounced on him from behind and snatched the pouch the elderly man was wearing. He went on to assault Mr Yeo, and then fled.

The two passers-by, Mr Tan Kay Charn, 37, and Mr Toh Hock Peng, 36, heard Mr Yeo's shouts and chased after Teo.

They managed to detain him.

Two days before that, on April 17, during a routine check at Ang Mo Kio Central, police found drugs on Teo.

Yesterday, in mitigation, Teo's lawyer said his client did not intend to hurt Mr Yeo and was sorry for his actions.