Two Indian-origin convicts spared death penalty in Singapore

Daniel Vijay Katherasan and Christopher Sasmson Anpalagan, both 27, were instead convicted of robbery with hurt by the Appeal Court, which has sent their case to the High Court for sentencing, 'The Straits Times' reported today.

The two now face a jail term of between five and 20 years and at least 12 strokes of the cane. They were part of a 10-man gang that ambushed a lorry loaded with 2,700 cell phones with the intention of robbing the cargo worth 1.3 million Singaporean dollars in May 2006.

Their partner in crime, 51-year-old Nakamuthu Balakrishnan, who bashed the lorry drive with a baseball bat, would now be the only one to be hanged for the murder.
Daniel Vijay, Christopher Samson, along with Nakamuthu, were convicted of the murder of driver Wan Cheon Kem in November 2006.

However, the Appeal Court held Nakamuthu responsible for the murder of driver and ruled that Daniel Vijay and Christopher Samson had no intention to kill.
Others involved in the gang robbery have been jailed under an earlier trial.