Jul 26, 2010
Two jailed for rental scams
<!-- by line --> By Khushwant Singh
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<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> TWO women were jailed for offering a Housing Board flat for rent to mostly foreigners and then running away with the deposits. Between last November and March this year, Phey Mui Hoon, 45, and Kuan Ai Lee, 47, cheated eight people of a total of $23,800. For her role in the scams, Phey was jailed a year and 41/2 months on Monday while Kuan was sentenced to a year and eight months behind bars.
A district court heard that the two friends got a locksmith to change the locks of a new flat in Block 28B in Dover Crescent. Although the flat then still belonged to the Housing Board, the duo offered it for rent on at least eight occasions. On April 5, a draftsman reported to the Dover Road Neighbourhood Police Post that he had been cheated of $3,500 by the two women. This comprised $2,100 as the deposit and $1,400 as the first month's rent for the flat on the 12th floor.
He was promised the keys to the flat on March 27 but were unable to contact either Phey or Kuan on that date or after that. Police investigations revealed that he was one of the many conned by Phey and Kuan. The duo were arrested in a hotel in Joo Chiat. Besides facing eight cheating charges, Phey and Kuan were also charged with eight counts of criminal trespass for entering the flat without permission from the HDB.
