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Updated: 11/05/2013 14:51 | By Channel NewsAsia
Man involved in rental scam jailed 21 months
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SINGAPORE: A man who was part of a rental scam amounting to almost S$66,000 was sentenced to 21 months' jail on Tuesday.
25-year-old Willie Lim Zhao Hui was convicted of using a number of Housing Development Board flats to deceive 20 foreigners into believing that the flats were available for rent.
The scam took place between May and June 2010.
Lim had collaborated with nine others, including four flat owners, to carry out the scam.
Arrangements would be made for victims to view the flats and subsequently sign the rental agreements.
They would then seek payment from the victims for rental and agent commission fees.
However, when the move-in date was due, Lim and his co-accused would give excuses and suggest the cancellation of those agreements.
They would promise to return the money by instalments but fail to do so.
Court documents said Lim was involved in posting online advertisements on various websites and facilitating the viewing of flats.
He also collected payments from the victims.
In sentencing, District Judge Siva Shanmugam noted that the courts have always taken a serious view of rental scams as a form of cheating.
He stressed that the victims are foreigners and a vulnerable group.
So far, nine of the group of 10 involved in the scam have been sentenced to between eight months and six years in jail.
The remaining individual has claimed trial.
The maximum penalty for such cheating is jail term of 10 years and a fine.
- CNA/fa
