Their inspiration? An episode of the popular television programme Crimewatch. The youngest culprit, who cannot be named due to his age, also pleaded guilty to his crime at the Youth Courts in May.
All three have yet to be sentenced. On 3 September last year, the trio met at night and discussed getting money. Their offences were not elaborated in court. Theophileous had been released on time leave on 2 September, but absconded. He suggested that they commit robbery as a fast way to get cash, the court heard.
John volunteered to find the sex workers online, while Theophileous suggested that they get knives. John and the year-old then volunteered to each bring knives to commit the robbery. At about Theophileous pointed a fruit knife at the victim during the robbery.
About an hour later, the teenagers knocked on the door of a fourth floor flat at a HDB block along Woodlands Street Two illegal sex workers from China, both aged 35, were renting out the apartment. They were on social visit passes. The Chinese women let the trio in, thinking they were customers. Inside a room, Theophileous pointed a fruit knife at one of the women and demanded money.
Theophileous came out of the room and told his accomplices to search for valuables. Four days later, one of the women made a police report about the robbery at Bukit Timah East Neighbourhood Police Centre.
