Standard Chartered robber David Roach will not be caned in S'pore, no alternative punishment imposed

No alternative punishment will be imposed on Roach in lieu of the remitted sentence of caning, said MHA.

Nigel Chua | July 25, 2021, 02:25 PM

The President of Singapore has remitted the sentence of caning previously given to bank robber David Roach, exercising her powers under Singapore's Constitution.

Under Article 22P of the Constitution, the President can remit a sentence (or part of a sentence) "on the advice of the Cabinet."

The Canadian national was originally sentenced to five years in jail and six strokes of the cane.

Background

Roach was put on trial in Singapore after his extradition from the United Kingdom (U.K.).

Roach was arrested in the U.K. in 2018, on request from the Singapore authorities, but efforts to extradite him were stalled as Roach made several appeals against it.

In Feb. 2020, his court appeals proved unsuccessful, and he was subsequently extradited to Singapore.

This was allowed by the U.K. authorities on the condition that Singapore would not cane Roach if he was found guilty, as the laws in the U.K. do not allow for extradition without such an assurance.

Roach was sentenced on Jul. 7, 2021, after pleading guilty in Singapore's State Courts to one count of robbery and one count of money laundering.

The Attorney-General's Chambers and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Singapore issued a joint statement later that day, clarifying that even though Roach had been sentenced to caning, the authorities were nonetheless working through the necessary procedures to fulfil the assurance given to the U.K. government.

Sentence of caning remitted

As of Jul. 24, Roach has had his caning sentence remitted, MHA said in a statement.

The ministry added that "no alternative punishment will be imposed on Roach in lieu of the remitted sentence of caning."

Another part of the statement read,

"Extraditing Roach to Singapore to face justice for his crimes was our top priority. The Singapore Government will do whatever is necessary and permissible within our legal framework to seek justice against those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of nationality and where they may have fled to."

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Top image via William Ow on Google Maps Street View and Singapore Police Force's website