A 75-year-old woman, Kang Pue Hua, has been sentenced to five weeks in jail after falling victim to an online scam. She opened a bank account for her ‘online boyfriend’ on WhatsApp, who goes by the name ‘John Lee Marina’—his real identity is still a mystery.
In her account, Kang received nearly $260,000 in suspicious funds. On top of that, she admitted to lying to the police about losing her ATM card, which she had actually given to ‘John’. It’s a tangled web indeed!
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Defence lawyer Vadi P.V.S.S. argued that Kang should either receive probation or a maximum two-week sentence, citing her husband’s health issues and the fact that she herself had been scammed out of $20,000 by ‘John’. However, Deputy Principal District Judge Ong Chin Rhu deemed probation inappropriate, emphasising the need for deterrence in cases involving financial deception.
Judge Ong’s remarks struck a chord, moving Kang’s husband to tears as he witnessed the verdict from the gallery.
The Scam Unraveled
Kang’s troubles began in December 2021 when she met ‘John’, who claimed to be a Singaporean returning home after living in the United States. Following his instructions, she completed an application form at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in Ang Mo Kio, falsely declaring she would be the sole operator of the account.
Once the account was established, she arranged to send the ATM card—with its PIN—directly to her online love. Between late December 2021 and February 2022, multiple transactions occurred through the account, raising red flags for the financial institution.
A Complicated Financial Network
Additionally, court documents reveal that Kang had another account with OCBC Bank. A woman named Ms Goh reported transferring $10,300 to Kang’s OCBC account, following directions from a man known as ‘Kelvin Lin’, although details about this transfer remain unclear.
It seems Kang went to the Bishan Neighbourhood Police Centre on 16 March 2022, where she falsely claimed her OCBC ATM card was lost, instead of admitting she had willingly given it to ‘John’. This series of events led to her eventual charge in 2023.
A Cautionary Tale
This unfolding drama serves as a stark reminder to all about the perils of online relationships and the need for vigilance when managing personal information and finances. As the court proceedings illustrate, even the most innocent-seeming actions can spiral into significant legal issues. Stay safe out there!