Indian-origin man charged with Singapore petrol pump robbery

A 48-year-old man of Indian origin was charged on Wednesday for robbing a petrol station here at knife-point in broad daylight, the first such incident in 10 years, police said on Wednesday. Visvanathan Vadivelu allegedly robbed a Shell outlet in Upper Bukit Timah Road of $1,193 Singapore dollars ($877) in cash on Monday and fled on a scooter, the 'Strait Times' reported.

He threatened an employee at the petrol kiosk with a kitchen knife and ordered her to place money from the cash register in a plastic bag, the report said. Vadivelu was wearing a helmet, a pair of sunglasses and gloves at the time of robbery, said police officials.