The StanChart robbery was Singapore's first true media circus in quite a while. Snippets of information being reported as soon as it was discovered.

There is a perception that the man had done something really wrong, with the cross-border cooperation between the Thai and S'pore police and the aforementioned 24 hour coverage of the mustard pants wearing ang moh.

But imagine if you were his friend or acquaintance, hundreds of kilometers removed from the crime scene. Your first news about a man who you've known all your life being that he had allegedly robbed a bank, and gotten away with $30,000.

You might not have the luxury of that certainty.

A report in Cape Breton Post, a community news site for Cape Breton, where Roach is from, captured a snapshot of the confusion and shock in their aptly titled piece, 'Community in Shock'.

Disbelief

A close friend to the family explained the fundamental reason why the community had trouble coming to terms with the news.

“There was never a bad word to be said about him. He grew up with great parents,” she said. “He was a nice guy, very smart and athletic.”

Some took to blaming the legal set up of the country that intend to press charges on him. (That's us!)

Specifically, a man named Gerald MacDonald, who while admitting Roach and him weren't close, claimed to know him as a good man.

“I don’t trust the justice system in those countries. I think we’ll find out this is a mistake"

Resolve

Whatever the outcome, a heartening narrative that ran through the piece was the support the community offered to the suspect's family.

“I’m hoping it’s not true and if it is, that people will rally around this family and help them. They are fine, fine, people. Their kids couldn’t have been brought up in a better environment.”

Top image from Shin Min Daily News

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