A 52-year-old man has been arrested for attacking two victims — one in an alleged rape attempt and another in a robbery — on the same day along Orchard Road. The first case was reported to the police around 12.50pm on Sunday — a 27-year-old woman claimed a male stranger forced a towel over her face and shoved her into a hotel room, but he beat a hasty retreat after a struggle ensued.
Later that day, around 5.50pm, a 48-year-old woman made a report about a male stranger who used a towel to cover her face when they were in a lift together at a shopping mall. He tried to grab her handbag, but she put up a fight, and he ran off with her mobile phone.
The suspect was arrested within 24 hours of the attempted rape, as officers from Tanglin Division, the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department banded together to identity and nab him. He will be charged in court today with attempted aggravated rape and robbery with hurt.
