Home Australia Why the cheesy smile has been wiped from Australian chef José’s face as he faces brutal punishment in Singapore after being charged with a crime over a notable physical feature

Why the cheesy smile has been wiped from Australian chef José’s face as he faces brutal punishment in Singapore after being charged with a crime over a notable physical feature

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Australian citizen José Manuel Pacheco (pictured) has been charged with an alleged armed robbery in Singapore.

EXCLUSIVE

An Australian restaurateur faces brutal corporal punishment in Singapore after police identified him as the prime suspect in an armed robbery because he was “fatter than the average person”.

Jose Manuel Pacheco, 39, may be caned 12 times with a 1.2m rattan cane after he allegedly threatened a 31-year-old female employee with a knife at lender Accredit Private Limited in Singapore’s Tampines district on June 4.

Singapore police allege Pacheco, from Perth, was in disguise – a mask and cap – when he confronted the worker at around 1.40pm and demanded she put S$6,095 (A$6,810) in 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.

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.

If convicted, he could face 12 lashes. Pictured is a prison officer at Singapore’s Changi Prison demonstrating how to whip a mannequin.

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, he 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 police will allege he robbed Accredit Money Lender (pictured) in the Tampines district.

Singapore police will allege he robbed Accredit Money Lender (pictured) in the Tampines district.

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.

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.

1718291170 852 Why the cheesy smile has been wiped from Australian chef

Pacheco, originally from Perth, has been living and working in Singapore in recent years.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Pacheco is a restaurant manager originally from Perth, who has been living and working in Singapore in recent years.

According to his LinkedIn account, the Western Australian has worked in hospitality since he was 14 years old and most recently worked as a director of Tapas Club, a premium Spanish restaurant chain.

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.”

The items Pacheco allegedly used are shown in the photo.

The items Pacheco allegedly used are shown in the photo.

Pacheco allegedly stole S$6,095 (A$6,810) (pictured), according to Singapore police.

Pacheco allegedly stole S$6,095 (A$6,810) (pictured), according to Singapore police.

Just eight months ago, 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.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted dplus1, the parent company of Tapas Club, for comment.

Pacheco appeared in court last week via video link, where a police prosecutor asked District Judge Lim Tse Haw for a four-week adjournment to give police time to complete their investigation, the Straits Times reported. .

The prosecutor requested that Pacheco be granted bail of S$20,000 (A$22,340), which was granted.

While on bail, Pacheco must remain contactable by police and must surrender his passport.

His family declined to comment.

Singapore police will allege that Pacheco was arrested after officers noticed him lurking near the crime scene.

Singapore police will allege that Pacheco was arrested after officers noticed him lurking near the crime scene.

HOW IS CANING USED IN SINGAPORE?

Singapore is considered one of the safest countries in the world due to its low crime rates, attributed to the Asian nation’s strict penalties for crimes.

In Singapore, caning is a widely used form of corporal punishment, which was introduced in the 19th century while the country was under British colonial rule. The practice is also common in other Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia.

Caning is mandatory in Singapore for certain serious crimes, including rape, drug trafficking and illegal moneylenders, and for foreign criminals.

The punishment consists of whipping the prisoners with a thin 1.2 m long rattan stick, at extreme speed, causing unbearable pain and injuries.

Spanking, which is always ordered in addition to a prison sentence and not as a stand-alone punishment, is governed by procedural codes that describe who can order it and when.

For example, punishment is usually reserved for healthy men between the ages of 18 and 50; However, children under 18 years of age can be spanked with fewer strokes and a smaller cane. Women and men sentenced to death whose sentences have been commuted cannot be sentenced to flogging. An offender can also receive up to 24 strokes in a single trial, but may be sentenced to more if the sentences are handed down in separate trials.

Caning is usually carried out in prisons by specially trained prison officers in an enclosed area out of sight of the public and other inmates, with the cane soaked in water overnight to prevent it from breaking or becoming embedded in the prisoner’s wounds. offender.

Prisoners are not told in advance when they will be whipped, but are instead informed of the day on which the punishment will be administered.

After being summoned, the offender is ordered to strip completely naked, bent over at a 90-degree angle to expose his buttocks, and then have his hands and ankles restrained in a wooden frame. All strokes are performed in a single session at intervals of about 30 seconds.

The offender is then freed from the wooden frame, given painkillers, and antiseptic lotion is applied to the wounds.

The punishment is controversial: Amnesty International considers caning cruel and inhumane; However, advocates of judicial punishment claim that it is a strong deterrent against crime.

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