by Elena Chong
A MAN who broke into flats mostly in Clementi area between
August and December last year was jailed for nine years and ordered
to be given 12 strokes of the cane on Wednesday.
This is the second time that Sim Tiam Tay, 47, had committed
housebreaking and theft by day. In 2004, he was jailed six years
for a series of housebreaking and theft by day.
In the latest case, he pleaded guilty to four charges of
breaking into three flats at Clementi Avenue 2 and another at Bukit
Merah View by forcing open the sliding windows and grilles or
removing the window panes.
Four other charges were taken into consideration.
When police arrested him in Clementi Avenue 2 on Dec 12, he was
carrying a bag containing four screwdrivers, an accessories box, a
black cap, two white cotton gloves and a pair of sunglasses.
Assistant Superintendent Raj Kishore Rai sought a stiff sentence
in view of Tay's similar previous convictions. The amount involved
was about $44,000.