<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Ex-cop jailed for renovation loan scam
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Khushwant Singh
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE headline on the advertisement was enticing: 'Need Urgent Cash?'
A police officer in debt answered it and, in the process, broke the law because the cash he sought was to come via fraudulent means.
Kamalrulsahrin Rahim, 35 and now a bankrupt, was yesterday jailed for a month for cheating finance company Hitachi Capital in a renovation loan scam three years ago.
A district court heard that when unable to service several existing bank loans, he answered the advertisement and was put in touch with Lucas Ang Liang, 32.
Ang, described in court papers as an employee of renovation firm StarBeau Contractor, is alleged to have suggested that Kamalrulsahrin take up a renovation loan from a financial institution and use part of the money to settle his debts.
On July19, 2006, Kamalrulsahrin applied to Hitachi Capital for a $27,000 loan, supported by a quotation for renovation works to be done by StarBeau.
Some improvements were made to Kamalrulsahrin's flat in Yishun, but the bill there came to only $9,470.
Of the balance, the police officer received $5,000. The rest is believed to have gone to Ang, who has claimed trial. His case has yet to be heard.
The scam came to light after Kamalrulsahrin told a former colleague, a retired station inspector, who went to the police.
Kamalrulsahrin, who pleaded guilty to cheating Hitachi Capital, had acted out of financial desperation, said his lawyer, Mr Sunil Sudheesan.
The staff sergeant resigned from the force in April last year and is now a security courier earning $1,200 a month.
Unable to service the loan and pay his other debts, he is now a bankrupt, said his lawyer.
Mr Sudheesan, citing a previous case in which only a fine was imposed, asked the court to show his client leniency.
But District Judge Ch'ng Lye Beng said a jail term was necessary, given that Kamalrulsahrin was a police officer at the time.
He noted that past cases showed that police officers and certain public servants are held to a higher standard.
Kamalrulsahrin could have been jailed for up to three years and fined.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Khushwant Singh
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE headline on the advertisement was enticing: 'Need Urgent Cash?'
A police officer in debt answered it and, in the process, broke the law because the cash he sought was to come via fraudulent means.
Kamalrulsahrin Rahim, 35 and now a bankrupt, was yesterday jailed for a month for cheating finance company Hitachi Capital in a renovation loan scam three years ago.
A district court heard that when unable to service several existing bank loans, he answered the advertisement and was put in touch with Lucas Ang Liang, 32.
Ang, described in court papers as an employee of renovation firm StarBeau Contractor, is alleged to have suggested that Kamalrulsahrin take up a renovation loan from a financial institution and use part of the money to settle his debts.
On July19, 2006, Kamalrulsahrin applied to Hitachi Capital for a $27,000 loan, supported by a quotation for renovation works to be done by StarBeau.
Some improvements were made to Kamalrulsahrin's flat in Yishun, but the bill there came to only $9,470.
Of the balance, the police officer received $5,000. The rest is believed to have gone to Ang, who has claimed trial. His case has yet to be heard.
The scam came to light after Kamalrulsahrin told a former colleague, a retired station inspector, who went to the police.
Kamalrulsahrin, who pleaded guilty to cheating Hitachi Capital, had acted out of financial desperation, said his lawyer, Mr Sunil Sudheesan.
The staff sergeant resigned from the force in April last year and is now a security courier earning $1,200 a month.
Unable to service the loan and pay his other debts, he is now a bankrupt, said his lawyer.
Mr Sudheesan, citing a previous case in which only a fine was imposed, asked the court to show his client leniency.
But District Judge Ch'ng Lye Beng said a jail term was necessary, given that Kamalrulsahrin was a police officer at the time.
He noted that past cases showed that police officers and certain public servants are held to a higher standard.
Kamalrulsahrin could have been jailed for up to three years and fined.
