Teen’s Knife‑Knocking Stunt Stunts a High‑Stakes Robbery Attempt
Case Overview: In July last year, 20‑year‑old Terry Tong Hong Zhi tried to snatch up a hefty $50,000 in cash from a Vietnamese businessman. Armed with a penknife, he approached Nguyen Thanh Luan – a man who’d supposedly brought the money to meet Tong on Gerald Drive. The plan backfired, leaving Nguyen with a nasty face wound that required stitches.
Reality Check: The Orchestrated Ploy
- Gambling Grievances: Tong was saddled with roughly $40,000 in debt. To tidy that mess, he plotted a “luxury watch” heist.
- Online Con – He rented a “black‑market” SIM card, slipped it into his sister’s nondescript phone, and launched Carousell accounts under multiple aliases.
- Fake Profile Pic: He used a stock photo of a middle‑aged Chinese bloke as his real‑seller image.
- Watch Whisper: Tong advertised a Patek Philippe on raffle‑price terms, chipping in the hopes of attracting buyers to Gerald Drive – a quiet, private estate he thought would make him look legit.
- On‑the‑spot Observation: As potential victims approached, Tong kept a discreet eye, deciding whether to open his knife or call it a night.
July 13: 5 pm – The “Long” Contact Slack
At 5 pm, Nguyen received a call from “Long,” a contact from Vietnam, asking for a $115,000 deal and suggesting a meet‑up at Gerald Drive. Nguyen, the guy with the 100k cash bag, set out a bit later – at 10 pm – with the suspect.
Showdown
- Tong swung a penknife at Nguyen once the victim was mid‑stride.
- Nguyen, expecting a brief encounter, got the knife instead; he was left with a facial cut that required stitches.
- Terrified, Tong fled the scene without a single pile of cash.
- Down the line, he tossed the stolen SIM card, set the phone back to its default state, and vanished.
Later – July 15: The Sheriff’s Clue
Police tracked down Tong within two days and took him into custody. Lawyers presented the case before a magistrate on March 10, where Tong admitted to trying to rob a man.
Legal Fallout: The Penknife’s Verdict is Yet to Come
The court will summon a professional assessment to determine whether Tong should undergo reformative training. For those condemned to training, the center imposes a strict daily life agenda featuring foot drills, indoor exercises, and counseling.
No ‘fair warning’: Sir, the victim hit by the knife, Mr. Luan, spent two days in Sengkang General Hospital earning stitches for his scarred cheek after the incident.
Current Status and Reforms Pending
Will Terry Tong ever get a court hearing? The verdict’s still in the pipeline. If he does, the retinue will conduct a full assessment – who knows what “judgement” it’ll pass? For now, the case serves a cautionary tale of a youth reaching for debt, using a penknife, and forgetting he’d pulled the trigger on reality.
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Article credited to The New Paper. Permission required for reproduction. Robbery, Carousell, Wounds, Injuries.
