A 17-year-old runaway girl and her 16-year-old boyfriend attempted to extort S$1,500 from a 43-year-old sex worker to fund their elopement to China. The duo’s plan, however, was foiled when the sex worker became suspicious of their young age and reported them to the authorities.
According to court documents, the girl had run away from home and was staying with her boyfriend. The pair concocted a scheme to “borrow” money from sex workers by posing as police officers. They contacted a sex worker online and arranged for her to provide a “massage service” at a hotel room located in Balestier. Once the woman arrived, the boy let his girlfriend into the room, and she threatened to report the woman to the police if she did not transfer them S$1,500.
The sex worker, however, noticed that the pair looked young and realized they were not police officers. She refused to give in to their demands and instead reported the incident to the police. The duo was arrested and charged in court.
The girl pleaded guilty to one count of attempted extortion and one count of theft. She was also charged with stealing her mother’s belongings, including a mobile phone and cash, in a separate incident. The stolen items were used to withdraw S$24,900 from her mother’s bank account, with the help of an unknown man. The girl claimed that the man ran off with most of the money, leaving her with only S$2,000.
The girl faces two other charges, including one for attempted theft of S$9,409 from an Alipay account. These charges will be taken into consideration for sentencing, which has been scheduled for a later date.
This incident highlights the dangers of extortion and the importance of being vigilant when dealing with strangers. It also serves as a reminder for parents to keep a close eye on their children and to educate them about the risks of getting involved in illegal activities.