According to a Police media release, a 43-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a car rental scam that was advertised online.
Three reports were made against the scammer and all three scams took place between 24 Dec 2019 and 11 Feb 2020. The scammer would advertise cars online for rental at a cheap rate, but after making payments to the scammer, the man went missing in action.
Police officers from Woodlands Police Division were able to established the identity of the scammer and he was arrested on the 12 Feb 2020.
For cheating which is filed under Section 420, Chapter 224 of the Penal Code, he can be jailed for a maximum of 10 years and a fine.
How to avoid getting scammed?
Scammers typically target people who are looking for cheaper deals to attract attention. If is too good to be true then its probably not true.
Make your online purchases through famous platforms and always check the rating of the seller.
The scale of the crackdown on wildlife meat has stopped the trade of 40,000 different kinds of exotic animals including bats, squirrels, weasel and many more. The variety of species suggests that China’s love for eating wildlife animals will unlikely disappear overnight even if it might be the cause of COVID-19.
A small part of the Chinese population likes to eat wild animals and believed that it will boost their libido and provide many other health benefits, despite the prying eyes of the world that the wildlife trade might be the cause of the deadly virus outbreak. Many of these businesses are illegal and many are believed to be continuing operating under the table.
A meat salesman from Mongolia stated:
“I’d like to sell once the ban is lifted. People like buying wildlife. They buy for themselves to eat or give as presents because it is very presentable and gives you face.”
To some people money or having “face” is worth it more than their lives.
Culture does not change overnight.
As much it is the culture in China, even with global attention on the virus. Culture does not simply change overnight.
But at the end of the line, it is about the money they can make from the trades.
Tang Jui Peng, the 45-year-old co-mastermind behind a series of offences relating to insurance fraud has been convicted. His insurance fraud scheme involved the staging of fake accidents to get payouts from insurance companies between 2011 and 2013.
His series of crimes only stop after he realised that the Singapore Police Force was on to him, On 2 January 2013, Tang went into hiding and fled to Malaysia.
Arrested 6 years later
On 10 September 2019, the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) assisted the Singapore Police Force and extradited the man back to Singapore.
Investigations revealed that Tang’s role includes the following
Staging of accidents,
Instructing stunt drivers on how to stage the accidents,
Recruiting owners to allow their vehicles to be used in the staging of accidents
Recruiting phantom drivers or passengers for the purpose of submitting fraudulent motor insurance claims for property damages and injuries.
53 Charges against him
After remaining elusive for over 6 years, Tang was finally charged in court on the 12 September 2019 for 53 charges.
For 14 staged accidents the claimed involved is S$336,276.35 but only S$95,217 was successfully paid out.
On 12 February 2020, Tang received his sentence to 51 months jail.
According to the Police, the following are the breakdown of his charges:
42 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat;
6 counts of giving false information to the public servant; and
5 counts of driving a motor vehicle on a road in a manner which is dangerous to the public.
There are other members in his syndicate
Principal Runner, Ong Kok Hua
62-year-old Ong Kok Hua was convicted on 26 September 2019 and jailed for 50 months.
41 charges related to 16 staged accidents from 2010 to 2013 the claimed involved is S$481,696 but only S$162,583 was successfully paid out.
Ong was recruited by Tan into the insurance fraud syndicate in 2010.
Investigations revealed that Ong’s role includes the following
Ong used his name to be reported as drivers of motor vehicles involved in accidents
Recruited other persons to participate in the scams, as ‘phantom’ drivers or passengers
Obtained vehicles to be used in staged accidents.
According to the Police, the following are the breakdown of his charges:
38 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat;
2 counts of abetment to the giving false information to a public servant; and
1 count of abetment in the fabricating of false evidence in a judicial proceeding.
Recruiter, Eswaran S/O Rajasevran
Eswaran S/O Rajasevran, the 38-year-old recruiter for the syndicate was convicted and sentenced to a total of 7 years jail along with 3 strokes of the rotan.
14 charges related to 5 staged accidents from 2011 to 2012 the claimed involved is S$160,039 but only S$24,067 was successfully paid out. He also faces one charge that falls under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Investigations revealed that Eswaran’s role includes the following
Assisted the syndicate to source and also recruited other persons to source for vehicles claims.
According to the Police, the following are the breakdown of his charges:
1 count of failing to provide urine specimen;
13 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat; and
1 count of abetment to the giving false information to public servant.
According to a Police media release, A 26-year-old man was arrested after attacking a public servant on 11 February 2020 at Sengkang General Hospital.
The incident happened at around 5.54 am, a man who was under medical examination started to behave hostile towards the hospital staff. An Auxiliary Police Officer (APO) that is stationed at the hospital was alerted to the scene. After the APO arrived, The man punched him in his right eye resulting in a cut.
The medical staff had to contact the Police for assistance, even after the Police has reached the scene, the man continued his hostile behaviour and started hurling profanities at the Police officers, he then try to punched and kicked them. He was then arrested for attacking the Police officers and the APO.
According to the Police:
a. Voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from discharging his duties under Section 332 of the Penal Code. The offence carries a jail term of up to 7 years, and shall also be liable to a fine or to caning.
b. Insulting a public servant under Section 6(3) of Protection from Harassment Act, Chapter 256A. The offence carries a fine not exceeding $5000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Healthcare workers working hard
Healthcare workers are already facing huge pressure from the Corona Virus, they should be respected instead of facing this kind of nonsense from such people.
Similar to Singapore, toilet paper seems to be so important in Hong Kong until people are buying them out. But for three individuals its worth committing a crime to get toilet paper.
Although Hong Kong Authorities assure the citizens of the stock supplies, there is still an ongoing panic buying in Hong Kong.
Three individuals are currently being hunted by the Hong Kong Police for stealing over a hundred rolls of toilet paper.
The heist was conducted by three and they held up a delivery truck driver outside a supermarket located in Mong Kok.
The driver was threatened by the 3 armed robbers to handover toilet paper.
The amount of toilet paper stolen is less than S$200.
AT a Clementi coffee shop, the three male individuals who appear to be quite young tilted a claw machine “pour out” more than 10 plush toys. All the actions that were committed by the three teens were caught by the CCTV.
After successfully “pouring” out the plush toys, they placed the toys in their food delivery bag.
According to a media release, the incident occurred at around 2.30 am on Thursday (13 Feb 2020) near a coffee shop located at Clementi Blk 328.
The coffeeshop owner contacted Ms Chen and told her that the amount of plush toys has dropped significantly overnight.
Zao Bao reported the incident and interviewed the person managing the claw machines, Ms. Chen described that they had just filled 50 plush toys the day before the incident.
She also revealed that she recognizes them as they were residents who stay nearby.
“The company hasn’t decided what action to take, or ask them to return the stolen toys, or directly complain to the delivery company.”
Yesterday three more cases were confirmed and one of the cases was a 29-year-old Singapore Citizen with no recent travel to China.
The 29-year-old is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God. He first reported symptoms to a doctor on the 12th of February and went to Urgent Care Centre at Alexandra Hospital and again on the 15th Feb.
He was warded and immediately isolated on his second visit to Alexandra Hospital. The results were confirmed on 15th Feb afternoon
Before he was admitted to the hospital, he work at Hi-Yew Technology Pte Ltd (3031A Ubi Road)
MOH reports that he stays at Mei Ling Street (Near Queenstown MRT)
Yesterday three more cases were confirmed and one of the cases was a 43-year-old Singapore Citizen with no recent travel to China.
The 43-year-old is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God. He first reported symptoms to a doctor on the 9th of February, he is also a close contact of Case 51.
Case 51 is a 48-year-old male Singapore Citizen with no recent travel history to China, who is linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God.
He stayed at home to serve quarantine on 13th of Feb, the day he was conveyed for NCID for treatment. On the 15th of Feb, the test results were confirmed.
Before he was admitted to the hospital, he attended Church service at 355 Tanglin Road but did not work since the symptoms.
Earlier today, MOH said that that are three more confirmed cases of patients who are infected with the COVID-19 (Wuhan Corona Virus).
Out of the three people, two of them are linked to the Grace Assembly of God Cluster.
One of the three people is a regular in the Airforce. Republic Singapore Airforce (RSAF)
This brings the total to 75 cases
There are at least 19 patients who have made full recovery from the infection. The rest of the 56 patients are still isolated and warded in the hospital.
There are 5 patients that are in the ICU as they are in critical condition.
