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Couriers robbed of nearly $215k

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</td></tr> <tr><td class="padlrt10" align="right">>> Back to the article</td></tr> <tr><td class="padlrt10">Jun 3, 2010</td></tr> <tr> <td class="padlrt10"> Couriers robbed of nearly $215k
</td> </tr> <tr><td class="padlrt10"> By Alexis Cai </td></tr> <tr><td class="marginbottom8 padlrt10"> WEARING ski masks to hide their identities, a gang of six men - one wielding a knife - ambushed two couriers and robbed them of RM500,000 (S$214,929).
They repeatedly punched one of the victims inside the 11th-storey flat in Dorset Road before fleeing down the staircase.
The robbery happened last Thursday at about 2am. The victims, two Malaysians, had intended to spend the night at the flat before delivering the money to moneychangers later that morning.
The gang - believed to be all Bangladeshis holding jobs in Singapore under valid work permits - had gotten wind that their victims were carrying huge amounts of cash and were waiting for them.
In a statement on Thursday, police said they rounded up five suspects, aged between 27 to 32, over the last two days.
The sixth suspect is still at large.
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PRC vanished after stealing from employer and roommates


Factory goes missing with cash and valuables
By Lim Wei Li
June 03, 2010

The noodle factory worker usually left with his bosses when they closed up for the day.

But on May 11, the Chinese national told his employers that he would leave later.

The next day, his employers found almost $5,000 missing from the cash register.

A few days later, room-mates of the 21-year-old worker found about $1,700 and other valuables missing from their hostel.

By then, the man had packed his bags and vanished.

His employers made a police report about his disappearance.

A police spokesman confirmed the report and told The New Paper that the Chinese national had left the country.

Mr Loh Kah Leong, 50, who runs the factory in Bedok with his family, said the man had worked for him for almost three years.

He has three other employees, two of whom are Chinese nationals.

Man fined for casino theft


Jun 7, 2010
Man fined for casino theft

A MAN was fined a total of $1,500 on Monday for stealing casino chips from gamblers at Resort Worlds Sentosa (RWS) last month. Malaysia Lai Boon Ngee, 32, a car mechanic, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft from two victims, $25 worth of chips from Mr Lim Yoon Hin, 38, and a $5 chip from Mr Soh Ah Seng, 47. He committed the offences between May 22 and 23.

A court heard that he was at the roulette table busy watching others bet on May 23 when he placed his beige-coloured chip on top of Mr Lim's set of grey-coloured chips at box number 33. He then withdrew his own chip together with four of Mr Lim's, pretending that he had changed his mind on the bet. Mr Lim did not realise the loss of his chips nor did he pay attention to his surroundings.

Jun 7, 2010
Drop-cash ruse: $20,000 stolen

A SINGAPORE businessman has lost $20,000 for having been too trusting of a pair of strangers. Last Friday, at about 11.30am, the 55-year-old was in his parked car after having been to a bank near Queen Street to withdraw money to pay his employees' wages. Just as he was about to drive off, a man and a woman approached him, telling him that he had dropped some cash behind his car. Believing them, he got out of the car, leaving the pouch with the money in the glove compartment.

He went to the rear of his car where some $2 notes lay on the ground. He bent down to pick them up. When he returned to the driver's seat, the couple were gone - and so was the pouch with the money. A passer-by said he saw the couple opening the car door and taking a bag out of it. They walked towards Bugis MRT station after that. The man appeared to be in his 40s and his companion, in her late 30s. They are believed to be Middle Eastern.

Anyone with information can call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000.

Maid jailed for 'molest' lie


Jun 9, 2010
Maid jailed for 'molest' lie

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
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ALL the Indonesian maid wanted was to have a change of employer. But Etik Sugiarti had no good reason to give her agent as her employer had treated her very well since she began work for the household since October 2009. So the 23-year-old cooked up a story that her employer's father had molested her.

She had heard from other domestic helpers that if she had made a police report alleging outrage of modesty against her, she could have a change of employer. Sugiarti admitted giving false information at Bedok Police Division headquarters on Jan 5 that her employer's 66-year-old father had molested her between Dec 20 and Jan 5 at a flat in Pasir Ris. The petite woman was jailed for eight weeks on Wednesday by District Judge Lee Poh Choo.

Businessman jailed for molest


Jun 10, 2010
Businessman jailed for molest

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong

AN INDIAN national who molested a young hotel trainee was sentenced to a week's jail and fined $3,000 on Thursday. Businessman Udaya Kumar Purushottaman Chembottu, 50, admitted to touching the 19-year-old on the shoulder, rubbing down her back to stroke her buttock and slapping it at a four-star hotel in Little India on Feb 6. A district court heard that Chembottu was leaving the lounge after dinner when he walked towards a 24-year-old employee, hugged and kissed her.

This charge was taken into consideration by the court in sentencing. When the victim saw him coming towards her, and as she had seen what he had done to the other staff member, she immediately lowered her head and turned her face to avoid him. Chembottu molested her. Feeling very upset, helpless and angry, she ran into the pantry area and cried. Chembottu, who is married with a daughter, could have been jailed for up to two years or fined or caned or received any combined punishment.

More charges against duo


Jun 10, 2010
More charges against duo

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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Kipuyo Lemburis Israel, 34, a Tanzanian, faces five charges of cheating Marina Bay Sands casino of a total of $126,209. The other man, South African Sibongile Arthur Mgxashe, 33, who is self-employed, allegedly deceived RWS casino of $7,000 each on May 20 and 21. -- PHOTO: RWS, MBS

<!-- story content : start --> TWO Africans have been accused separately of cheating the Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands casinos in the largest fraud case uncovered to date. Kipuyo Lemburis Israel, 34, a Tanzanian, faces five charges of cheating Marina Bay Sands casino of a total of $126,209 by placing bets at roulette tables after the results had been declared between May 18 and 20.

He was also charged with having casino chips worth $85,000 at Intercontinental Hotel, which is outside a designated site, an offence under the Casino Control Act which prohibits the taking out of chips of more than $10,000 outside the integrated resort. The offence carries a maximum fine of $150,000 and five years' jail. Kipuyo has also been charged with two counts of trying to cheat the Bayfront Avenue casino of $52,500 in chips at roulette games, and three counts of stealing $5 chips from others at the gaming floor last month.

The other man, South African Sibongile Arthur Mgxashe, 33, who is self-employed, allegedly deceived RWS casino of $7,000 each on May 20 and 21 by placing late bets in roulette games. He has also been charged with stealing three $5 chips from two people at RWS casino and stealing two $5 chips from an unknown woman at Marina Bay Sands casino.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times

M'sian casino cheat charged


Jun 11, 2010
Casino cheat charged

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
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A MALAYSIAN man was brought to court on Friday for allegedly cheating Resorts World Sentosa casino of $3,020. Toh Yee Foo, 33, a car repossessor, is said to have deceived a dealer at a roulette table into paying him and an unknown woman the winnings on Wednesday after placing a late bet with chips worth $1,510. He was remanded for a week with permission to take out for investigation. Toh, who is represented by Mr Peter Ong, will return to court on June 18. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.

Man gropes cop in cemetery


Man gropes cop in cemetery
By Elysa Chen
June 11, 2010

On May 4, the police conducted an anti-vice operation at the old cemetery along Jalan Kubor, an area known for vice.

The police declined to to give details of the vice activities.

A plainclothes policeman was standing alone in a poorly lit spot when he was approached by Jagadiswaran Krisnan, 32, a coffee house supervisor, at about 10.40pm.

Jagadiswaran struck up a conversation with the undercover cop.

Two other police officers were stationed a short distance away, ready to provide help.

While talking to the officer, Jagadiswaran, a Malaysian, moved closer to him. He told the officer that he was there "to have fun".

Then, he suddenly raised his hand and stroked the officer's chest and private parts.

That was when the undercover cop identified himself and, with the help of his colleagues, arrested the man.

Jagadiswaran was charged with behaving in an indecent manner in a public place. He was fined $1,000 on Tuesday.

M'sian man stole casino chips


Jun 14, 2010
M'sian man stole casino chips

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent

A MALAYSIAN man who stole five chips amounting to $200 from a woman at Resorts World Sentosa casino last week was fined $2,000 on Monday. Ahmad Sharifuddin A. Shukor, 57, pleaded guilty to stealing the chips from Madam Lye Sam Moi, 57, at a baccarat table on June 10. The court heard that Madam Lye was gambling with two others at the casino when she told her friend, Madam Zhao Fengzhi, 49, to look after a stack of chips at the edge of the baccarat table. She then went to another table to gamble. Ahmad came along and told Madam Zhao, a Chinese national, that the stack of chips on the table was left by his friend.

But Madam Zhao insisted that the stack belonged to her friend and pulled the chips nearer to her. After a few games, Madam Zhao turned her head when her friend called her and when she turned back, the chips were gone. She called Madam Lye, who returned to the table and complained to the dealer. CCTV footage showed Ahmad taking the victim's chips. After cashing out his chips and the victim's, he left and went to Marina Bay Sands casino to gamble and lost all his money there. He could have been jailed for up to three years and fined.

Swiss teen jailed for burglary


Jun 14, 2010
Swiss teen jailed for burglary

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong

A SWISS teenager broke into a family friend's house with her boyfriend and got away with valuables totalling $1,583 less than two months after her release from prison for theft. Frederique Wanger, 19, admitted to housebreaking and theft of cash and property totalling $1,583 from Ms Rebekka Christa Aicher Koch, 50, at Sunset Way on May 4. The unemployed girl's alleged accomplice, Muhammad Nurashik Ahmad, 20, has been charged and his case is pending.

A district court heard that she got into the house between 1am and 2am by climbing over the perimeter wall. She went to the back of the house and climbed through an unlocked sliding window in the guest room. She stole two phones worth $733 and $850 cash in the living room. Investigation showed that Wanger was convicted and sentenced to five weeks' jail, backdated to Feb 19, for theft in March.

After serving her sentence, she was issued with an extended pass to remain here until April 26. She remained here since and had thus overstayed for nine days when she was caught in a Geylang hotel on May 5. Wanger, who pleaded guilty to overstaying and another charge of mobile phone theft, was jailed a total of 12 months and fined $1,000 on Monday. Two other trespass charges were taken into consideration in sentencing.

Casino chip thief fined $3,000


Jun 16, 2010
Casino chip thief fined $3,000

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A MALAYSIAN woman was fined $3,000 on Wednesday for misappropriating another person's $1,000 cash chip at Marina Bay Sands casino. Toh Chea Keh, 49, who worked in a hair salon in Malaysia, pleaded guilty to dishonestly misappropriating the chip belonging to Mr Tan Boon Tiong, 45, at a baccarat table on May 20. The court heard that Mr Tan was betting at the baccarat table when he decided to leave after the game resulted in a tie.

As he was grabbing his cash chips, he missed a $1,000 chip. Toh saw this and immediately sat down at the victim's seat, using her hands to cover the chip together with her own. She later encashed the chip. The victim reported the matter to the staff when she realised the missing chip. Toh could have been jailed for up to two years and fined for the offence.

Wah! We truly must salute the contributions from all these foreign talents.

Pakistani jailed for casino cheating bid


Jun 16, 2010
Jailed for casino cheating bid

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> A PAKISTANI was jailed on Wednesday for trying to cheat Marina Bay Sands casino of $35,000 by placing a bet on a winning number after the result had been declared. Ashraf Zohaib, 25, had placed a $25 cash bet on a winning number 27 in a roulette game on Monday. After the result of winning number 27 had been declared, dealer Li Xuehui, 27, placed a maker on his winning chip. A district court heard that as Ms Li was preparing the winnings for Ashraf, he intentionally removed the marker and the $25 cash chip and placed a $1,000 cash chip below them.

When the dealer saw the additional $1,000 chip on the winning number, she notified her pit supervisor. Ashraf was detained. Questioned by a police officer, he lied that his friend had instigated him to place the $1,000 chip on the winning bet. He was jailed a total of four months on Wednesday for attempted cheating and giving false information to the police. He could have been jailed for up to five years and fined for attempted cheating, and up to one year and fined up to $5,000 for giving false information.

Fined for casino chips theft


Jun 17, 2010
Fined for casino chips theft

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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A MALAYSIAN man was fined $700 on Thursday for stealing seven pieces of $5 chips from a gambler at Resorts World Sentosa casino. Lau Weng Cheong, 57, pleaded guilty to the theft of $35 worth of chips from Malaysian Chair Hon Yeik, 51, at a baccarat table at RSW on Wednesday. The court heard that Madam Chair had placed a stack of chips at the edge of the table when she walked away to place some bets.

When she got back to her seat, she suspected some of her chips missing but did not make any complaint. However, a surveillance department officer saw Lau through the closed-circuit television walking to the corner of the table and placing a roulette record card on top of the victim's chips. Lau stole some chips and walked away. The officer alerted the security manager to look out for Lau who was subsequently detained. Lau could have been jailed for up to three years and fined.

Frenchman fined for mischief


Jun 17, 2010
Frenchman fined for mischief

<!-- by line --> By Elena Chong
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A FRENCH national who damaged a fire alarm manual call point at Terminal 1 of Changi Airport was fined $5,000 on Thursday. Oil rig supervisor Antoine Mathieu Rongeot, 38, was originally accused of a more serious charge of vandalism which carries a minimum of three strokes of the cane. He admitted to a reduced charge of mischief. Two other charges of using abusive words on cops were considered during his sentencing.

District Judge John Ng ordered him to compensate $1,860 to the victim by June 23. Rongeot's lawyer Wendell Wong said full restitution would be made and the funds were with his law firm. A district court heard that Rongeot, who works in Balikpapan, Indonesia, was on transit at Terminal 1 to catch a connecting flight to Paris when he had too many drinks. He was seen by two aviation security officers walking towards a door with a fire alarm manual call point on it and punching it when he could not open the door. He could have been jailed for up to two years and/or fined.

Re: Frenchman fined for mischief

What's wrong with these westerners? Graffiti vandal at 33 and public property vandal at 38?!

Drop money scam: 3 caught


Jun 23, 2010
Drop money scam: 3 caught

<!-- by line --> <!-- end by line --> Tipbox

Members of the public are advised to be aware of and vigilant against such scams and to take the following crime prevention measures:

- Be aware of stranger loitering around the ATM before or when drawing money.

- If you intend to withdraw a large sum of money, ask someone you know to accompany you.

- Avoid exposing your cash and conceal your notes quickly once the ATM dispenses the money.

- Secure your vehicle doors and windows when it is left unattended, even if it is only for a short while.

- If you need to transport valuables or large sum of money, avoid leaving them on the passenger's seat or at the dashboard. Make sure they are locked inside the glove compartment.

- Be aware of distraction techniques employed by potential criminals.

THREE Mexican nationals - two men and a woman - have been arrested in connection with three cases of attempted theft and the 'drop money' scam
Police said the victims in these cases had withdrawn large sums of money from the bank before returning to their cars.

Before they drove off, the culprits would approach the victims and get them to leave their vehicles momentarily, saying on the pretex that they had dropped a stack of cash outside the vehicle. While the victim was distracted, one of the culprits would then take the opportunity to steal the victim's cash from the vehicle.

In one of the cases, the culprits managed to steal cash totalling about $20,000 from the victim's vehicle which he had left unsecured to pick up the scattered notes. Following the reports, officers from the Bedok Police Division and the Central Police Division sprang into action and managed to arrest the suspects in the vicinity of East Point Shopping Centre on Tuesday at about 11.15am.

All three suspects, aged between 32 to 37 years, will be charged in court on Thursday for theft. If convicted, they can each be jailed up to three years, fined or both. For the offence, the offender can be punished with imprisonment for up to 3 years, or with fine or with both.

His suicide is an escape


His suicide is an escape
Chinese youth whose father murders mother and kills himself in prison says father didn't have courage to face punishment
By Elysa Chen
June 24, 2010

On June 26 last year, 17-year-old Yu Wei rushed home to find the police at his door.

His mother had been stabbed to death.

Worse, his father was the killer.

Three months later, on Sept 20, his father committed suicide in prison while awaiting trial for murder.

The tragedy has left Yu Wei, who came from China with his mother to study here, an orphan. He has no relatives here.

A family friend acts as his guardian and visits him once a week.

The findings of a joint coroner's inquiry into his parents' deaths yesterday brought him little comfort.

Yu Wei's father, Yu Qiangguo, 45, had fatally stabbed his mother, Madam Wei Hong, 41, and hanged himself in his jail cell.

He was prepared to forgive his father once the man was sentenced in the High Court, but that chance never came.

Still, Yu Wei decided to forgive his father when he learned of his death.

He said: "He was still my father after all, and I had to bury him."

3 charged with attempted theft


3 charged with attempted theft

by Shaffiq Alkhatib
05:55 AM Jun 25, 2010

<script type="text/javascript"> var fontIndex = 2; var fontSize = new Array('0.63em', '0.69em', '0.75em', '0.88em', '1em', '1.13em'); </script> Two Mexican men and a woman were charged yesterday with attempting to steal $35,000 on June 14 this year.

Anais Cobarruvias Mendola and David Dzul Navarrete Mejia, both 32, and Agustin Eduardo Fuentes Delgado, 33, are alleged to have committed the crime at VivoCity's basement one carpark at around 4pm.

The money was in the possession of a man identified as Mr Charlie See Teck Kim.

The trio are being remanded at Bedok Police Division and the case will be mentioned again next Wednesday.

If convicted, they could each be jailed up to three years and fined.