Indian Tourists Jailed in Singapore for Brutal Robberies Against Sex Workers

Two Indian nationals, Saravana Kumar (33) and Palanivelu Suthagar (30), who arrived in Singapore on tourist visas, have been handed down severe sentences by a Singaporean court for their involvement in a series of violent robberies targeting sex workers.

Saravana Kumar was sentenced to six years and 10 months in jail, along with 12 strokes of the cane.

His accomplice, Palanivelu Suthagar, received a sentence of six years and six months in jail, also accompanied by 12 strokes of the cane. The court emphasized the gravity of their actions, particularly against a vulnerable segment of society.

The duo’s crime spree began shortly after their arrival in the city-state.

On March 17, 2024, they initiated their first assault. Saravana Kumar, after engaging a Vietnamese sex worker in a Geylang apartment, violently choked her and proceeded to rob her of S$1,000. Palanivelu Suthagar played a complicit role, standing guard outside the premises to ensure their nefarious act went undisturbed.

Undeterred by their initial success, the pair struck again the very next day, March 18.

This time, they targeted another Vietnamese sex worker in the same district of Geylang. Saravana Kumar once more employed the same brutal method, choking the victim before making off with S$200 and her mobile phone. Palanivelu Suthagar again assumed his role as lookout, facilitating the crime.

Their final recorded act of violence occurred on March 21, escalating in audacity and aggression.

Entering a flat, Palanivelu Suthagar brandished a knife, using it to intimidate and rob a Filipino sex worker. He forcibly took S$200 and her mobile phone, while Saravana Kumar stood guard, completing their coordinated sequence of terror.

The Singaporean courts have consistently adopted a firm stance against crimes that exploit and harm vulnerable individuals.

In delivering these sentences, the court underscored its commitment to protecting all residents and visitors from criminal acts, sending a clear message that such violent and predatory behaviour will not be tolerated within its jurisdiction. The swift and severe justice served in this case highlights Singapore's robust legal framework and its zero-tolerance policy towards crime.