SINGAPORE, Sept 25 — Two people accused of working with others to cheat three victims of nearly S$263,000 (RM927,000) in total have walked free after being given stern warnings, according to The Straits Times (ST).
Chinese national Wang Rui, 34, and Malaysian Sau Young Seng, 38, were each granted a discharge, which amounts to an acquittal, ST reported. Those given such a discharge cannot be charged again with the same offences.
Without disclosing details, the Attorney-General’s Chambers told ST in a statement on Sept 24: “After carefully considering the facts and circumstances of the matter, the prosecution directed that stern warnings in lieu of prosecution be issued to both Wang and Sau.
Following the administration of the stern warnings... the prosecution applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal in relation to the charges against them.”
District Judge Brenda Tan granted the discharge on Sept 17.
Wang and Sau had each faced three cheating charges on Nov 15, 2024.
They were accused of conspiring between June and July that year to dupe one victim into believing an online job opportunity posted via WhatsApp was genuine.
According to the report, the victim transferred more than S$28,000 to bank accounts belonging to seven others.
The duo were also accused of committing a similar offence between June and August 2024, allegedly duping another victim into believing in a genuine investment opportunity posted on WhatsApp.
The person was said to have transferred nearly S$232,000 to five different bank accounts.
In addition, they were accused of cheating a third victim of S$2,600 between July and August 2024, purportedly through a bogus investment opportunity on an online trading platform.
In a statement in November 2024, police said the pair were arrested following an anti-scam operation earlier that month.
Officers seized more than 6,800 SIM cards, 15 mobile phones, two laptops and recovered more than S$10,000 in cash.
According to ST, offenders convicted of cheating in Singapore can face up to 10 years’ jail and a fine for each count.