Filipina Domestic Workers And Singaporean Employers Arrested For Operating Unlicensed Moneylending Business

Acting on information received, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department conducted an operation on 11 January 2011 and busted two separate groups believed to be involved in issuing unlicensed loans to foreign domestic workers. A total of five persons aged between 28 and 69 years old were arrested in the operation.

The first group involved three persons, namely a 69-year-old male Singaporean and two Filipina domestic workers aged 28 and 36 years respectively. This group is suspected to have issued loans to more than 200 other Filipina domestic workers since June 2010.

The second group involved a 47-year-old female Singaporean and a 29-year old Filipina domestic worker. They are believed to have issued loans to about 40 domestic workers since January 2009.

The three Filipina suspects and the female Singaporean will be charged in Court on 13 January 2011 for offences under the Moneylenders Act. Investigations against the remaining suspect are still ongoing.

Under the Moneylenders Act, persons found guilty of operating or assisting in the operating of a loansharking business may be fined not less than $30,000 and up to $300,000 with mandatory imprisonment of up to four years and shall be liable for caning of up to six strokes.

Source: PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Singapore Police Arrested a 23-year-old Yishun Taxi Robber

Singapore Police have arrested a 23-year-old man who is believed to be involved in a case of taxi robbery at Yishun Ring Road.

On 6 December 2010 at about 3.20 am, a 48-year-old taxi driver reported that he had been robbed by an unknown man who was armed with a knife. The victim had picked up the suspect as a passenger along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 and dropped him off in the vicinity of Blk 414 Yishun Ring Road. Before alighting, the suspect informed the victim that he would return to pay him after withdrawing money from a nearby ATM. However, when the suspect returned, he took out a knife and robbed the victim of cash amounting to S$290/-.

Through extensive follow up investigations and protracted enquiries, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division managed to establish the suspect’s identity. On 11 January 2011 at about 8.00 am , the suspect was arrested in the vicinity of Yishun Ring Road.

The suspect will be charged in Court No. 26 on 13 January 2011 for Armed Robbery under Section 392 read with Section 397 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 14 years and shall be liable to a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun, commended his officers for their good investigative work. DAC Hsu also advised taxi drivers to be wary of suspicious persons boarding their taxis. When confronted, taxi drivers should remain calm, take note of the physical appearance and distinctive features of the perpetrator(s) and call for the Police as soon as possible.

source: Singapore Police

48 year-old Singaporean arrested for serial rental scam

Singapore Police arrested a 48 year-old Singaporean man who is believed to responsible for at least 3 cases of rental scams where victims were cheated of about $9,000/- in total.

A 43 year-old PRC national reported to the Police that he had been cheated of a sum of $2,800/- by a male suspect who agreed to rent him his flat but disappeared after collecting the money. Upon receipt of the report, officers from Clementi Police Division conducted extensive enquiries and investigations and managed to ascertain the identity of the suspect. This led to the arrest of the suspect 5 days later on 28 Oct 2010 when he turned up at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority ( ICA ) to collect his passport.

Preliminary investigations revealed that since 15 Sep 2010, the suspect had advertised his flat for rent on the Internet. Unsuspecting victims who were mainly foreigners responded to the advertisement and paid the suspect advance rental payments and deposits. The suspect would then become uncontactable after receiving the money.

The suspect will be charged in Court for the offence of Cheating. The offence carries punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall be liable to fine.

source: Singapore Police

Two Youths Arrested For Armed Robbery At Jurong Central Park

Police have arrested 2 male youths who are believed to have robbed a 48 year-old man at Jurong Central Park 2 days ago.

At 6.15 am, the victim, a 48-year-old man, was cycling along Jurong Central Park when an unknown youth shouted at him to stop. When he stopped, two other youths suddenly appeared and assaulted him. The trio asked for his wallet and took away cash of $40/-. One of the youths also rode his bicycle away. The victim sustained a minor scratch on his forehead and abrasion on his left hand as a result of the incident.

Following the report, officers from Jurong Police Division conducted extensive ground enquiries, intelligence probes and intensified patrols in the vicinity of Jurong West and Jurong Central Park. On 28 Oct 2010 at about 4 am, officers sighted three youths along Boon Lay Way fitting the description of the suspects. The youths fled upon seeing Police but the officers managed to detain two of them after a short chase. A 14-cm bread knife was also seized from the possession of one of the suspects.

The two suspects will be charged in Court on for the offence of Robbery with Hurt under Section 394 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, they can be sentenced to a imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years and shall also be punished with caning with not less than 12 strokes.

Beware: GSIS Issues Warning Against Fake Agents

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) alerted the public that some private individuals have been caught using the agency’s name in securing reinsurance contracts in London and Australia without its authority.

Upon verification, the contracts were revealed to be fraudulent, while the persons involved were also uncovered as fake agents who were not connected in any way to the GSIS.  The following persons were identified as having falsely identified themselves as authorized representatives of the agency:

   1. Efren O. Docena;
   2. Roberto C. Ibasco; and
   3. Arnulfo R. Madriaga.

The GSIS warns that it assumes no responsibility to compensate or indemnify any party for any contract or agreement entered into by persons or entities who have not been authorized by the GSIS to do so.

The public is advised to seek verification from the GSIS prior to entering into any GSIS-related transaction with purported agents.