EXCLUSIVE
An Australian restaurateur facing brutal corporal punishment in Singapore for an alleged armed robbery has been sent back into custody to undergo a mental health assessment, as the business he ran abruptly closed.
Jose Manuel Pacheco, 39, may be caned 12 times with a 1.2m wicker cane after he allegedly threatened a 31-year-old employee with a knife at lender Accredit Private Limited in Tampines district on the 4th. June.
He allegedly fled the scene with more than $6,000, but was arrested a short time later after police saw him loitering nearby.
Father-of-two Pacheco, originally from Perth, appeared in court in Singapore on July 2 after being granted bail on $20,000 ($A22,340) bail in June.
According to Singapore media reports, during the court hearing, the prosecution requested that Pacheco be referred to the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric evaluation.
Pacheco’s lawyer did not object and explained the request.
The judge approved the prosecutor’s request for Pacheco to go to the center, which according to its website offers a range of “psychiatric, rehabilitation and counseling services.”
The matter was then adjourned to a later date.
Australian citizen José Manuel Pacheco (pictured) has been charged with an alleged armed robbery in Singapore.
If convicted, he could face 12 lashes. Pictured is a prison officer at Singapore’s Changi Prison demonstrating how to whip a mannequin.
The update comes as Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the premium Spanish restaurant chain Pacheco ran in Singapore has closed permanently.
Tapas Club, which operated three locations in the Asian city, permanently closed all stores and deactivated its website.
The company also deleted posts and images from its social media accounts, without making any formal announcement about its discontinuation.
It is unclear whether the closure is related to Pacheco’s arrest, as many Singapore hotel operators have closed in recent months due to economic pressures.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted dPlus1, the parent company of Tapas Clubs, for comment.
Singapore police allege that Pacheco was in disguise – a mask and cap – when he confronted the worker at around 1.40pm on June 4 and demanded she put S$6,095 (A$6,810) into a bag.
The employee remained calm and carefully took note of the alleged thief’s appearance and clothing so she could pass the information on to the police.
Using the victim’s description, police arrested Pacheco half an hour later as he allegedly lurked near the crime scene, watching investigators without his disguise.
He was confronted by an officer and allegedly confessed to committing an armed robbery.
Singapore police will allege he robbed Accredit Money Lender (pictured) in the Tampines district.
The items Pacheco allegedly used are shown in the photo.
Pacheco allegedly stole S$6,095 (A$6,810) (pictured), according to Singapore police.
Officers approached Pacheco, who police said appeared not to know how to answer their questions before eventually admitting to the armed robbery.
Singapore police will allege that the Australian chef believed he could remain undetected watching the investigation unfold after removing his mask and cap.
Yimeng, a manager at a nearby store, told local media that police came in to ask for CCTV before officers began searching the area for the alleged perpetrator.
He said officers arrested Pacheco after seeing him sitting on a ladder next to his store.
“The man they saw was sitting on the stairs, facing the crime scene, as if he was watching the police handle the case,” he told Zaobao.
‘He spoke to the police in Malay. He was fatter than the average person, had long hair and a beard.
“Although he had removed his mask and hat, he was still unable to escape the researchers who were carefully observing his surroundings.”
Police were able to seize the knife allegedly used in the robbery and recover all of the cash.
Singapore has low crime rates due to its severe penalties for criminal activities, which has seen the Asian nation consistently rank as one of the safest countries in the world.
In Singapore, people can be sentenced to caning for more than 30 offences, including kidnapping, robbery, sexual abuse, drug abuse, rioting, vandalism, extortion and illegal possession of weapons.
Pacheco, originally from Perth, has been living and working in Singapore in recent years.
He worked as a tapas club manager in Singapore before his arrest in June.
Caning is mandatory for certain crimes, such as rape, drug trafficking and illegal money lending, and for foreigners who overstay their visas more than 90 days.
The punishment, which only applies to men, is administered in prison by a trained prison guard while the offender is naked, bent over and restrained on a wooden frame, resulting in bloody cuts to the buttocks.
If convicted, Pacheco, charged with one count of armed robbery, faces three to 14 years in prison and at least 12 lashes.
According to his LinkedIn account, the Western Australian has been working in hospitality since he was 14 and has been living and working in Singapore for the past few years.
He also previously worked as director of Singapore’s Yole Café, as well as general manager of Heart of Darkness brewery in Vietnam.
“My work and personal life revolve around the positive impact I can have on someone that will create a lasting memory and leave a legacy,” Pacheco wrote in his bio on his now-deactivated LinkedIn page.
“This translates well to my professional life, as one of my main goals is to create a personal connection between the company I represent and the clients we serve.”
Last year, Tapas Club Singapore shared a gushing post about Pacheco, which featured a photo of him serving a dish to a customer at the buffet.
‘When our own Tapas Club director, José, comes out to serve you, you know it’s a special day!’ the company wrote on Facebook.
Another post on the restaurant’s Facebook page describes Pacheco as “the maestro behind the Tapas Club” and a father of two who combines his “passion for hospitality with family life.”
