THE CASE
In November 2023, Wong and Goh learned that high-stakes poker games were being held at a house in the King Albert Park area, where many landed properties and Good Class Bungalows are located.
They knew someone who had taken part in the games, court documents stated.
The games involved stakes of up to a few hundred thousand dollars, with payments settled using cryptocurrency, the court heard.
Wong and Goh visited the house and observed that the gate was left open and the wooden door unlocked during the poker game.
Several months later, in March or April 2024, Wong suggested robbing the house. But he and Goh knew they would need more people to carry out the plan.
Goh approached Hamidon, whom he had met at an event where Hamidon had provided private security. Hamidon ran his own private security firm as well as debt collection services.
Wong and Goh met Hamidon to discuss the operation. Hamidon was to recruit men to intimidate and subdue the victims in exchange for RM1.5 million (S$467,000), which would be split among his team.
Hamidon obtained a deposit of RM10,000 before recruiting the others. He did not initially tell them the details of the operation, but they knew it involved illegal activity.
Wong and Goh decided the robbers would wear black clothing, gloves and ski masks.
On Apr 15, 2024, Wong drove into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint and checked into a hotel. However, despite a poker game ongoing at the house, Hamidon’s team was not ready and the robbery did not take place.
Meanwhile, Hamidon’s team prepared themselves with black clothing, ski masks, gloves, duct tape and cable ties.
The following day, Wong and Goh drove past the house but found that no poker game was taking place. They instructed Hamidon’s team to remain in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The next night, however, a poker game was in progress.
Goh and Wong instructed Hamidon to meet them at a car park in Geylang. Hamidon and his team entered Singapore through Woodlands Checkpoint in a vehicle at about 10.45pm on Apr 17.
They met Wong and Goh at the car park, where they were shown photographs of the house and briefed on how to enter it. Machetes and baseball bats were placed in Hamidon’s vehicle.
Before 2.05am on Apr 18, 2024, the seven men drove to the house and parked outside.
Three of them were armed with machetes, while two carried baseball bats.
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