SINGAPORE — Muhamad Sahlifi Suleiman, 44, was sentenced to two years and nine months in jail for his role in a failed snatch theft, cheating, and drug-related offences.
Sahlifi pleaded guilty on October 24 to five charges: abetment of attempted robbery, cheating, drug consumption, and two counts of drug possession.
Court documents revealed that Sahlifi was recruited by Tate Lim to snatch $40,000 in cash from Mr Yin Yang in December 2022. Lim believed Mr Yin was withholding the money from a woman, Ms Wang Mengmeng. Sahlifi later offered Amzar Daiyan Abdul Ghafor $1,000 to execute the theft.
The attempt occurred after Mr Yin left the Jurong East Neighbourhood Police Centre. Amzar tried to grab the money on Bukit Batok Street 52, punching Mr Yin in the process, but failed.
Tate Lim was sentenced to seven months, and his nephew, Ivan Lim Teng Tze, received three months and two weeks in jail for related charges. Details of Amzar’s sentence were not disclosed.
Separately, between August and September 2023, Sahlifi, employed as a team manager at Phamous Facilities Management, cheated 19 subsidiary proprietors of $14,335. He falsely claimed the money was for refundable deposits for temporary utilities, diverting it into his personal PayNow account. No restitution was made.
On January 23, 2024, Sahlifi was arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau. Officers found methamphetamine and cannabis at his home, and his urine tested positive for methamphetamine.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Charles How noted that Sahlifi’s sentence should deter others from attempting violent acts and emphasized that Sahlifi was the “mastermind” in the cheating scheme. He also had prior convictions for cheating, theft, forgery, and money-lending offences.
Legal penalties for the offences include:
Abetment of attempted robbery: 1–7 years jail
Class A drug possession: Up to 10 years, $20,000 fine, or both
Drug consumption: 1–10 years jail
Cheating: Up to 10 years jail
