Jail, fine for man who used father's identity to rent car, mother-in-law's details to buy iPhone

SINGAPORE — After helping his father register for a Foodpanda account using photos of the man's identity card and driving licence, 36-year-old Tay Hao Ying misused the images to rent a car under his father's name. 

Despite not having a driving licence, Tay used the car to provide paid rides to customers and sublet the vehicle to other persons.

On a separate occasion, he took a picture of his wife's identity card before editing the photo with his mother-in-law's details. He then used the photo to sign up for a contract with mobile services provider Singtel to get an iPhone.

On Thursday (March 7), Tay pleaded guilty to:

• Cheating by impersonation
• Cheating to induce the delivery of any property
• Driving without a licence
• Driving without insurance
• Failing to keep a proper lookout, resulting in a collision

Tay was sentenced to two months and four weeks' jail, and a fine of S$2,300 — or if he cannot pay the fine, six days' imprisonment. He is also barred from obtaining a driving licence for 24 months.

During sentencing, 14 charges were taken into consideration, including making a false traffic accident report that his father was the driver in an accident.

He was granted a deferment by the court and will begin his sentence on April 8.

WHAT HAPPENED

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Eugene Lau said that Tay had taken photos of his father's National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) and driving licence to help the man register for a Foodpanda food delivery account before 2023.

On Jan 18 last year, Tay decided to rent a car from the car-sharing platform Drive Lah. ​​​​He planned to earn some money by providing rides and subletting the vehicle. 

Since he had no valid driving licence, he applied for the vehicle with his father's details, and used the car to earn about S$1,700.

On Feb 13 last year at about 6.45am, Tay was driving along Edgefield Plains towards Punggol Field when he tried to make a U-turn at a junction.

This was when he encroached into the pathway of another car, resulting in a collision.

When the vehicle's driver approached Tay to exchange his particulars, Tay provided his father's details instead.

Tay later made a police report of the accident, lying that his father was driving the vehicle.

"On Feb 19, 2023, the accused was stopped by the traffic police in the Drive Lah car," DPP Lau said.

"Upon their questioning, the accused admitted that he was the driver of the Drive Lah car on Feb 6, 2023 as well."

Separately, Tay edited a picture of his wife's NRIC and replaced her details with his mother-in-law's.

He then used the photo of the edited NRIC to apply for a Singtel mobile subscription on Feb 21 last year and received an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

He later forged a letter of authorisation and returned to the Singtel shop on Feb 22 to collect the phone, which he sold for S$1,400.

DPP Lau sought a total sentence of two months and four weeks' to three months and six weeks' jail, a fine of S$2,300 to S$2,800, and 24 months' disqualification from holding a licence.

He noted that Tay has had several driving-related crimes previously, including for reckless driving in 2017.

As for obtaining the mobile phone with an altered NRIC, DPP Lau said that Tay was highly culpable.

"He premeditated the offence and took steps to conceal his identity by first taking his wife’s NRIC and editing it.

"He also perpetrated the deception necessary to complete the criminal transaction by forging a letter from his mother-in-law."

For cheating by impersonation, Tay could have been jailed for up to five years and been fined, or both. 

For cheating to induce the delivery of any property, he could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined.