Two jailed for robbery and stepping on victims' faces

SINGAPORE - A 36-year-old Bangladeshi worker was cycling along Nicoll Highway on May 15 when he was thrown off his bicycle and robbed by two men, who stole his wallet and mobile phone.

The young robbers also punched and kicked him repeatedly on the face and body. One of them stepped on his face twice until he was rendered unconscious.

Al-Azhar Mohamed Yusoff, 20, and Sayed Muhammad Nassier Sayed Mohd Sidek, 21, were jailed and ordered to be given the maximum 24 strokes of the cane on Friday for brutally assaulting their victims.

The Straits Times (ST) reported that two victims had facial fractures after their faces were stepped on, while another suffered serious injuries, including a rib fracture.

District Judge Eddy Tham described this as one of the worst cases of robbery he had come across.
The robbers had earlier admitted to six charges of robbery with hurt, cheating and drug consumption, said the report.

It was not the first time Azhar had robbed and hurt other victims. He had suggested beating up and robbing males to Nassier, who agreed.

On May 15 after stealing from the construction worker, the two preyed on a 25-year-old Indian national, who was jogging in the wee hours of the morning. They robbed him of his wallet, $50, a work permit and a cellphone.

Earlier on May 8, ST also reported that they had robbed a 27-year-old factory operator from China at a void deck in Pasir Ris at about 1am.

Azhar pretended to ask him for directions and then punched him on the face. Nassier joined in the assault.

When the victim fell, they continued punching and kicking him. They also stepped on his face and body.

Judge Tham said the duo displayed a level of viciousness that was shocking considering their relatively young age.

Nassier had a drug conviction. Both men had gone through reformative training before.