Singapore promises not to cane suspected bank robber if UK sends him back to face trial
David Roach, a Canadian citizen, is wanted in the city state for allegedly stealing from a Standard Chartered bank branch in 2016 after strolling in and presenting a threatening note
Singapore has agreed not to cane a man accused of carrying out a rare bank robbery in the city state if Britain extradites him to face charges, officials said on Tuesday.
David Roach, a Canadian citizen, is wanted in Singapore for allegedly stealing Sg$30,000 (US$22,700) from a Standard Chartered bank branch in 2016 after strolling in and presenting a threatening note.
He fled to Bangkok, where he was jailed on charges related to bringing the stolen cash into Thailand but authorities refused to send him to Singapore as the countries do not have an extradition treaty.
After his release, he was detained in January at London’s Heathrow Airport while in transit en route to Canada and Singapore has requested that he be deported to the city state. Singapore and Britain have an extradition treaty.
Flogging with a heavy rattan cane is a common punishment in Singapore and is a legacy of British colonial rule, with convicted bank robbers facing a minimum penalty of six strokes, as well as at least two years in jail.