Woman linked to fake SAF bulk order scams charged in court
The 22-year-old woman's bank account was "used in connection with online scams which involved bulk purchase of food", said the prosecutor.
A woman with a mobile phone and a laptop. (File photo: iStock)
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SINGAPORE: A 22-year-old woman linked to a recent spate of fake bulk orders placed by scammers posing as Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel was charged in court on Wednesday (Sep 17).
Rajadi Rajasinghe Manamendra Patabadilage Vishwa Madavi was the first of three people arrested over this to be charged.
The Sri Lankan was handed one count under the Computer Misuse Act for abetting by conspiracy with an "unknown person" by disclosing her DBS bank account login password to the person for an illegal purpose.
She indicated that she would plead guilty.
The prosecutor said her bank account was "used in connection with online scams which involved bulk purchase of food".
Her bank account was "used to receive large amounts of funds", said the prosecutor.
The woman was remanded and appeared in court via video-link in a black shirt emblazoned with a blue cat.
She listened to proceedings via a Sinhalese interpreter and told the court she was in Singapore on a student pass. She said she would try to get a bailor but was unsure if she could get one.
In light of this, the court fixed a date for her to plead guilty on Oct 1. If convicted, she faces a jail term of up to seven years, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both.
According to a police statement, Rajadi was arrested along with a 31-year-old man and another male suspect, 16.
The trio had allegedly acted on the instructions of a scam syndicate to facilitate the perpetration of fake bulk order scams involving the impersonation of army personnel from the SAF.
There have been at least five cases reported since Sep 4, with losses amounting to a total of at least S$32,000, said the police.
Rajadi allegedly relinquished control of her bank account to the scam syndicate for monetary gains.
Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department's Anti-Scam Command and Central Police Division carried out raids near Middle Road, Woodlands Street 81 and Cantonment Road on Monday and Tuesday and arrested the trio, seizing electronic devices and prepaid cards.
