Police have arrested a 41 year-old man and 43 year-old woman who are believed to be involved in at least 2 cases of rental scams where victims were cheated of advance rental payments and deposits amounting to about $2,600/-.

On 26 Nov 2010, a 28 year-old man reported to the Police that he had been cheated of a sum of $1,600/- by a male suspect who agreed to rent him his flat but disappeared after collecting the money. Upon receipt of the report, officers from Clementi Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and established the identity of the male suspect. On 29 November at about 8.15pm, the officers traced the male suspect and found him with a female accomplice in a unit at Blk 3 Jalan Bukit Merah. Both of them were subsequently placed under arrest.

Preliminary investigations revealed that since early Nov 2010, the male suspect had advertised his flat for rent on the Internet and newspaper. Unsuspecting victims who responded to the advertisement were made to pay the suspect advance rental payments and deposits. However, the suspect would become uncontactable after receiving the money.

Both suspects will be charged in Court on 1 Dec 2010 for the offence of Cheating with Common Intention. The offence carries punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall be liable to fine.

Commander of Clementi Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Melvin Yong, commended his officers for their good investigative work leading to the arrest of the suspects.