In Singapore, a 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to conspiring with a group to rob another teenager by luring him into a fake cryptocurrency transaction. The incident was planned using the messaging app Telegram.
Planning the Robbery
According to court statements, the defendant, Bai Chunjie, met one of his co-conspirators, 30-year-old Benedict Yee Hong Fai, through a mutual friend on Telegram last August. They devised a plan to ambush a potential buyer by initially pretending to help them make a crypto trade.
Robbery Attempt Turns Violent
On the day of the meeting, Bai connected with the intended victim, a 19-year-old known only as Mr. Zheng, in a crypto trading Telegram group. However, the meeting escalated into a violent altercation when one co-conspirator physically attacked Zheng as he attempted to flee.
Court Finding and Consequences
Bai Chunjie pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted robbery with hurt. He faces significant penalties under Singapore law, including a potential prison sentence of five to twenty years and at least 12 strokes of the cane. Investigations into the other accomplices are ongoing.
This incident highlights the risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions and the need for increased scrutiny in this area.
