Teen allegedly assaulted while carrying $32,000 cash to trade for crypto in Hougang, 3 men arrested
Three men, aged between 20 and 29, were arrested for their suspected involvement in attempted robbery with hurt in Hougang.
The police were alerted to the case at Hougang Street 51 on Aug 29 at about 7.55pm.
A 19-year-old male teenager was allegedly assaulted by an unknown man.
The teen has shared a video online where he recounted what happened. He said he was punched on the left cheek.
Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that on the day, the teen had received an offer from a 29-year-old man on Telegram to meet up to trade cryptocurrencies for cash, amounting to about $32,000.
Investigations also revealed that the transaction was purportedly a sham and the older man had allegedly arranged for two other men to assault the teen with the intention to take his money when he turned up.
While the teen was waiting, he was confronted by the two men and was assaulted by one of them. The teen managed to escape with his cash.
Through follow-up investigations and with the aid of CCTV and police cameras, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established the identities of the three men involved and arrested them between Aug 30 and Sept 3.
The man who arranged the meet up, Benedict Yee Hong Fai, was charged in court on Sept 5 with attempted robbery with hurt, which carries an imprisonment term of five to 20 years and caning with not less than 12 strokes.
The other two men are assisting with investigations.
