Property agent jailed for theft, cheating

SINGAPORE - A property agent not only cheated seven foreigners of a total of $32,400 in a rental scam, he also stole a necklace and a watch from his Chinese national girlfriend.

Jim Tan Kuan Hui, 41, now unemployed, pleaded guilty to theft and cheating on Thursday and was jailed for two years by a district court.

While working for the Asia Group property firm, he hatched a plan with Jeffrey Tan Chwee Guan, 38, and another man named only as Ah Lai to rent out the former's Housing Board flat in Jurong East.

The two Tans would collect deposits and advance rental fees from interested people, then cook up excuses as to why the flat was unavailable.

In one case in December 2010, 34-year-old Jameel Adnan Ahmed agreed to rent the flat for $1,000 a month. He handed over a total of $7,000 as agent's commission and advance rent.

Several weeks later, Jim Tan told him he could not move in as the flat had been vandalised with paint and the police had sealed it for investigations.

When Mr Jameel visited the unit, he found it was occupied by other tenants. His demands for a refund went unheeded and he went to the police.

Jim Tan received $250 from the transaction, with the rest going to Jeffrey Tan and Ah Lai.

Then, in August last year, Jim Tan filched his girlfriend's gold necklace and Omega watch worth a total of $4,500 while she was asleep in the house they shared in Thomson.

Jim Tan, who did not have a lawyer, told the court that he had merely "borrowed" the items to pawn as he was short of cash and had intended to return them.

For theft, he could have been jailed for up to seven years and fined. The maximum penalty for cheating is a 10-year jail term and a $10,000 fine.

Both Jeffrey Tan and Ah Lai are still at large.

khush@sph.com.sg

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.