Women jailed, fined for RWS moneylending business
Posted: 10 October 2011 1948 hrs
SINGAPORE: Two Malaysian women, who made almost daily trips from Johor Bahru to a casino in Singapore, were sentenced on Monday for carrying out unlicensed moneylending activities.
Forty-nine-year-old Lee Chai Thing, who is unemployed, was jailed six months and fined S$120,000 for being an unlicensed moneylender.
Her 'runner', 24-year-old Ban Pei Chin, who works at a coffeeshop, was jailed six weeks and fined S$60,000.
Their offences were committed at Resorts World Sentosa between January and August this year.
The court heard that both women visited the casino almost daily since early this year.
They then gave out loans of between S$500 and S$10,000 to debtors in the form of cash or cash chips.
In July, Lee also opened a deposit account with the casino to aid her illegal business.
The court heard that Ban received free meals and about S$20 on various occasions for her services.
The duo were arrested on August 3.
District Judge John Ng said Lee was not a "usual loanshark" as the offence was non-syndicated and involved a "minimal" level of sophistication.
He also noted that Ban's benefits in assisting the business were rather insubstantial.
Both women were emotionless during sentencing.
- CNA/cc
