Police have arrested a 37 year-old Chinese woman on 09 June 2010 in connection with several cases of cheating reported island-wide.

Since April 2010, several cases of cheating were reported island-wide. The suspect would approach elderly persons and inform them that she either just had a miscarriage or was experiencing difficulties with her pregnancy. She would appeal to the victims’ compassion and sympathy by asking them to lend her money for medical treatment. Upon receiving cash from the victims, the suspect would then provide the victims with a fictitious name and contact number on the pretext of wanting to repay the victims.

The breakthrough came on 9 June 10 at about 8pm when Mr Chris Oh, a civilian analyst attached to the Intelligence Branch of Bedok Police Division spotted the female suspect in the vicinity of Blk 85 Bedok North Road. Mr Oh found her familiar as he thought he had seen her from CCTV footage he researched in the course of his work in relation to the reported cases. Mr Oh decided to keep watch on the female suspect and his suspicions were confirmed when the suspect approached him and attempted a similar ruse on him by asking for a loan for her medical fees. Mr Oh rejected her request but continued to keep watch on her movements while concurrently calling for reinforcements from his colleagues at Bedok Police Division. The suspect was promptly detained along Bedok North Road thereafter.

The suspect will be charged in court on 11 June 2010 for the offence of Cheating under Sec 420 of the Penal Code, Cap 224 and will be remanded for further investigation. The offender, upon conviction, is liable to be imprisoned for a term which may extend up to 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine.

Commander Bedok Police Division Deputy Assistant Commissioner Teo Chun Ching said, “Let this be a strong signal to would-be criminals that police take a very serious view of such offences and will spare no effort to apprehend those that break the law“. In addition, Police would like to take this opportunity to remind members of public to be wary when they encounter cases of such similar nature and not hesitate to call the police should they sense something amiss.