Guilt-stricken 62yo Thief Returns To Singapore & Surrenders After Fleeing To Malaysia 14 Years Ago

In 2003, Haron Ismail, fled to Malaysia from Singapore after his accomplices were arrested for theft and housebreaking. He was living in Malaysia for 14 years. The 62-year-old man now has returned to Singapore because of the guilt he felt and surrendered himself back in 2017 and on Friday (14 Jan), he was sentenced to four years and nine months’ jail for his crimes.

As reported by CNA, Haron revealed to the court that he had no peace of mind when he was in Malaysia and the guilt was always at the back of his head. He pleaded guilty to three charges, with another three charges considered in sentencing. After his accomplices, Abdul Karim and Rusli were arrested, he fled to Malaysia in May 2003 and initially thought of never returning to Singapore to evade arrest.

He, however, came back to Singapore on 3 July 2017, surrendered at Woodlands Checkpoint, was arrested, and was released on police bail 24 hours later. His accomplices, Rusli had been sentenced in 2003 to six years’ jail, while Abdul Karim was sent to 12 years of preventive detention and a maximum of 24 strokes of the cane. However, since Haron is already above 50, he cannot be caned.

Within four years, while waiting for his case to come to court, Haron has also upgraded himself by taking security and taxi licences, but developed heart problems and diabetes. He could have been jailed between 2 to 14 years and caned for housebreaking by night to commit theft and for housebreaking to commit theft he could have been jailed up to 10 years and caned. However, he did not receive caning due to his age.

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