Singapore Teenager Out on Bail After Cheating Bank, Assaulting Policeman, and Threatening Elderly Man

A Singaporean teenager, who is currently out on bail, has been accused of cheating a bank, assaulting a police officer, and threatening a 66-year-old man during a chaotic incident on a MRT train. The young offender, who recently turned 20 in October, has already pleaded guilty to charges of cheating, using criminal force on a public servant, and engaging in public nuisance. The accused was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, but the case has been adjourned until November 27.

Due to the fact that the teenager was only 16 at the time of committing the cheating offense in 2020, his identity is protected under the Children and Young Persons Act. This legislation safeguards individuals below the age of 18 from being publicly named in such cases.

According to court documents, the teenager embarked on a crime spree in 2020 after being introduced to a scheme by a 20-year-old friend, identified as A2. This scheme enticed participants by promising quick financial gains. Participants were required to surrender their bank accounts to others for illicit purposes, such as illegal online gambling, in exchange for cash.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Alexandria Shamini Joseph revealed that A2 offered the teenager $200 per month for each bank account he relinquished. Tempted by the prospect of easy money, the teenager agreed to take part in the scheme.

On May 17, 2020, the teenager handed over control of his bank account to A2 by providing him with his automated teller machine card and Internet banking login details. Subsequently, a criminal syndicate utilized the account for transactions involving approximately $477,000 in deposits and $473,000 in withdrawals.

Following this, A2 approached the teenager and proposed that he open another bank account and surrender control of it in exchange for an additional $200 per month. Eager to continue profiting from the scheme, the teenager visited a branch of the specified bank on May 18, 2020, and deceitfully claimed that the account would be used for personal purposes.

The prosecution stated that the teenager later handed control of the newly opened bank account to Lean Wei Jun, a 22-year-old man. The outcome of Lean’s case was not disclosed in court documents.

Investigations into the teenager’s criminal activities have revealed that the syndicate involved a network of at least 98 suspects and 170 bank accounts. Authorities are currently conducting further investigations to determine the full extent of the enterprise.