Police have crippled a rental scam syndicate which saw the arrests of three men and a woman believed to be connected to more than 20 cases of cheating over the rental of residential flats.

Between June 2010 and July 2010, Police received more than 20 reports by people who were unable to move into residential flats after paying deposits, rental fees and agent commissions. Amounts ranging from $900 to $1500 were paid to the supposed home owners and property agent who advertised for the rental of two flats located at Blk 115 Jalan Bukit Merah and Blk 7 North Bridge Road. The home owners and the property agent remained uncontactable after the payments were made.

Following investigations by Central Police Division, the owner of the unit at Blk 115 Jalan Bukit Merah was arrested in connection to the case. Investigations revealed that he was working with a bogus property agent to commit cheating in a bid to obtain quick cash. Police officers were able to establish that money from both units was paid into a common bank account.

Armed with this information, Police mounted an operation lasting 20-hours yesterday to apprehend the remaining suspects. On 22 July at about 12am, police officers arrested a 48 year-old Chinese woman. A bundle of blank tenancy agreements were found in her possession. About 14 hours later, officers arrested a 56-year old Malay man who had posed as the owner of Blk 7 North Bridge Road.

On 22 Jul 2010 at about 8.15pm, police officers arrested the last remaining suspect, the 45 year old male Chinese bogus property agent known to his victims as ‘Raymond’. He was subsequently found to be wanted by the Police for other separate offences of robbery and serious hurt.

The 45 year old Chinese man and the 56 year old Malay man will be charged in Court 26 on 24 Jul 2010 for conspiracy to cheat under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, they face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine. An order will be sought from the Courts for them to be remanded for further investigations. The Chinese woman and the owner of the unit at Blk 115 Jalan Bukit Merah will be released on Police bail pending further investigations.

Further investigations are ongoing to ascertain if there are other victims who may not have lodged a Police report. They are encouraged to come forward to lodge a police report at any police station.

Commander of Central Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tan Hung Hooi, commended his officers for their good investigative work and perseverance which led to the arrest of the suspects.