Man sentenced to jail for attacking, robbing 68yo of $600 pension at ATM

A man has been jailed for attacking and robbing a man of his aged pension benefit after he withdrew it from an ATM.

A MAN has been jailed for attacking and robbing a man of his aged pension benefit after he withdrew it from an ATM.

Bob Karpa was sentenced to two years and four months jail after he was found guilty in the Alice Springs Supreme Court of aggravated robbery on a 68-year-old man for $600.

The court heard the victim went to an ATM on Gregory St in Alice Springs about 7.30am on September 21, 2021 to withdraw his aged pension benefit.

When the victim began the process of withdrawing $600 in cash from the ATM, Karpa, 60, was lingering beside the victim.

The victim asked why he was standing next to him but Karpa did not reply.

He collected his cash and began walking down Gregory St towards Bath St.

The 68-year-old noticed Karpa was following him and asked why but Karpa again remained silent.

When the victim turned into a driveway of an underground carpark, Karpa reached into his back jeans pocket and tried to take his wallet.

The 68-year-old resisted and Karpa then punched the elderly man several times, causing him to fall onto the concrete footpath.

Once the victim was on the ground, Karpa struck him to the upper body multiple times.

The attacker took the victim’s wallet and ran away.

The entire incident was captured on CCTV.

On September 22, 2021, Karpa was arrested on the outskirts of Yulara and found to be in possession of the victim’s wallet, containing his bank card.

The victim suffered pain and trauma as a result of the robbery.

Karpa entered an early plea of guilty to this charge and his sentence was reduced by about 20 per cent because of this.

Karpa was sentenced to two years and four months jail for the aggravated robbery, commencing on September 22, 2021.

A non-parole period of 16 months was set and Karpa will have to undergo the Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Program or a similar program immediately on release.

Karpa was also ordered to pay restitution of $600 to the victim within three years.