Police have arrested a 49 year-old Chinese man in connection with several cases of cheating involving elderly victims.

Since February 2010, 5 cases of cheating involving elderly victims where a similar modus operandi was employed was reported to police. In these cases, the culprit would identify himself as a HDB or BCA official and persuade the victims to change their toilet window. After getting the victims to hand over advance cash payments for the new windows, the culprit would issue an invoice and claim that he would send someone to install the window in a few days time. However, the work would not be carried out and the culprit would become uncontactable.

The culprit remained elusive as he could not be easily traced. However, through extensive enquiries and follow-up investigations, officers from Bedok Police Division managed to arrest the suspect at Aljunied Crescent on 9 June 2010. A fake ‘HDB’ pass was also recovered from the suspect.

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 of Bedok Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Teo Chun Ching, commended his officers for their perseverance, diligence and good investigative work which resulted in the arrest of the suspect. He also reminded members of the public to be wary of strangers and to call for the police if they should sense anything amiss.