The man who attempted to rob the UOB branch at City Plaza on Monday afternoon had just got married last year.

His family was shocked to hear that he had tried to rob a bank.

His mother, 73, told Lianhe Wanbao that he is the youngest of her four children, and had just got married last year. He and his wife live in Tampines.

"He is an odd-job labourer and his income is unstable. When he has money he will give me some money, can be $50 or $100, but he hasn't given me any allowance for a few months." said his mother.

She only found out about the attempted robbery Tuesday morning when police informed her that her son had been arrested.

According to neighbours, the suspect had just been released from prison two years ago.

Lianhe Wanbao reports that he told the bank teller during the robbery "don't be a hero, I am desperate".

Alert guard foils attack

Certis Cisco guard Rosli Mohamad Sa'ad, 45, says that he was suspicious the moment the suspect walked in.

He immediately sprung into action to wrestle him down and shouted for help at the same time.

"The robber kept groaning when we were pinning him down, the ten-odd customers in the bank were shocked, and did not know how to react."

How did he realise that the suspect was a man in disguise?

• Even though the suspect wore lipstick, he had stubble on his face
• He was 1.8m tall, and was very big-sized
• His nervous behaviour roused their suspicion
• His voice was too low pitched to be a woman's
• He did not queue, but walked straight up to the counter

» Man in women's clothing tries to rob bank

» Photo gallery of crime scene