The Police have arrested three women and a man, aged between 17 to 27, who are believed to be involved in several cases of using S$100 counterfeit notes.
Between 22 July 2018 and 29 July 2018, the Police received several reports that counterfeit S$100 notes were presented for payments at coffeeshops and convenience stores located in Woodlands and Hougang housing estates respectively.
Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department conducted extensive ground enquiries to establish the suspects’ identities and subsequently arrested the three women along Hougang Ave 6 on 29 July 2018 at about 4.30pm. Two mobile phones and several pieces of S$100 notes, which are believed to be counterfeits, were seized as case exhibits.
Through follow-up investigations, officers from Jurong Police Division and Commercial Affairs Department arrested the other 27-year-old man along Woodlands Rise on 30 July 2018 at about 12.15 am. Two laptops, five mobile phones, several pieces of S$100 notes which are believed to be counterfeits, an assortment of other persons’ identification documents, a dagger, a sachet of white-coloured substance believed to be controlled drugs, and some improvised drug-smoking apparatus were seized from him. Preliminary investigations revealed that the four suspects are believed to be involved in at least four other similar cases of using counterfeit $100 notes in July 2018.
The suspects will be charged in court on 31 July 2018 with the offences of abetment by conspiracy in using as genuine counterfeit currency notes under Section 489B read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, and abetment by conspiracy in possessing counterfeit currency notes under Section 489C read with Section 109 of the Penal Code. Anyone convicted for the offence of using as genuine counterfeit currency notes shall be punished with an imprisonment term which may extend to 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine. Anyone convicted for the offence of possession of counterfeit currency notes shall be punished with an imprisonment term which may extend to 15 years. The 27-year-old man will also be investigated for offences of suspected drug consumption, possession of offensive weapons and possession of another person’s identification documents.
The counterfeit S$100 notes, which are believed to be photocopied reproductions, lack security features such as the watermark (an image that can be seen when held up to the light) of Singapore’s first President, Mr Yusof Bin Ishak. The simulated security features such as the kinegram and security-thread are also distinctively different from those on genuine notes. The surface of the counterfeit notes also lack the embossed feel on genuine notes.
To date, the counterfeit notes in the cases reported bear the following four serial numbers:
- 1AE483429;
- 2EC327675;
- 3AX174455 and
- 3AB548790
Members of the public are advised to be wary of receiving possible counterfeit notes. If you have received a counterfeit currency note, including those bearing the above serial numbers, you should:-
- Call the Police at '999' immediately;
- Note the presenter's description, such as gender, race, age, height, built, attire, tattoo marks, language or dialect spoken as well as that of any companions;
- Note the presenter’s vehicle registration number (if any); and
- Limit the handling of the suspected note and place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope, to prevent any tampering and hand it over to the Police immediately.
Information on the security features of genuine Singapore currency is available on the MAS website at: http://www.mas.gov.sg/Currency/Security-Features/How-to-identify-genuine-notes.aspx
If you have any information pertaining to the above case, please call the Police hotline at 1800 – 255 0000 or dial 999 if urgent Police assistance is required. Information can also be submitted online http://www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 July 2018 @ 12:45 PM