SINGAPORE - A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the rape of a 53-year-old woman whom he and two friends also robbed in a flat in Yishun.

Brandishing a chopper, Mendel See, a Singaporean permanent resident, allegedly robbed her of $700 worth of items and cash on Oct 2 last year, along with Benjamin Yong, 22, and Chow Chia Suan, 23.

In the process, he allegedly hurt the female victim, strangling her and then forcing himself on her.

It is not known if she lived in the flat. Her assailants took two Samsung phones, some cigarettes and about $100 in cash.

As See was above 16 during the time of the crime, he can be sentenced as an adult and punished accordingly.

However, as he is under 21, he is still eligible for reformative training, a residential rehabilitation programme for youth offenders to re-integrate them into society.

This is not the only violent crime the trio have been charged with. In September last year, they allegedly committed armed robbery on Guptha Sneha at a Canberra Drive apartment. All three were armed with choppers and took a mobile phone and cash from their 24-year-old victim.

They are also alleged to have stolen from that apartment, taking some $670.

Yong also faces an unrelated drug charge. He was allegedly found to be in possession of utensils intended for the consumption of drugs.

For armed robbery, the trio can face up to 14 years in jail and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane. Chow cannot be caned as she is a woman.

For causing hurt in a robbery, See faces a minimum of five years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane and can face up to 20 years in jail. For rape with hurt or fear of death imposed on the victim, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a minimum of 12 strokes.