(AFP) A Singaporean man who tried to snatch a bag containing cash worth a quarter of a million US dollars from a compatriot will appear in court here this week, police said today.

The 41-year old man, who was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Friday, will be charged on Thursday with attempted robbery.

A police official said the suspect, who was believed to have planned the robbery in advance, approached the 44-year-old money changer as soon as he arrived from Singapore.

A commotion ensued when the businessman shouted for help as the knife-wielding suspect demanded his bag containing the large sum of money in foreign currencies.

"There was a small fight, and police arrived at the scene just as the suspect tried to make off with the businessman's bag of money," the official told AFP .

The suspect, who was detained and locked up at the airport police station, faces a fine and up to seven years in prison if found guilty.