A 45-year-old mastermind, Tang Jui Peng (“Tang”), was convicted on 12 February 2020 for a series of offences relating to motor insurance fraud by staging road traffic accidents between 2011 and 2013.
On 2 January 2013, Tang fled Singapore before the Singapore Police Force started investigations into a spate of road traffic accidents, which were believed to have been staged. On 10 September 2019, with the assistance from Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), he was extradited back to Singapore.
Investigations revealed that Tang was a co-mastermind in a motor insurance fraud syndicate operating in Singapore. His roles included participating in the staging of accidents, instructing stunt drivers on how to stage the accidents, recruiting owners to allow their vehicles to be used in the staging of accidents and recruiting phantom drivers or passengers for the purpose of submitting fraudulent motor insurance claims for property damages and injuries.
Tang was charged in court on 12 September 2019 for 53 charges relating to 14 staged accidents and involving claims amounting to S$336,276.35, of which S$95,217 were paid out. He was remanded since then. On 12 February 2020, Tang was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment, which is to take effect from the start of his remand. The breakdown of his charges are as follows:
- 42 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat;
- 6 counts of giving false information to public servant; and
- 5 counts of driving a motor vehicle on a road in a manner which is dangerous to the public.
Two other members of the syndicate who played significant roles in the clandestine operations were recently convicted.
Principal Runner, Ong Kok Hua
On 26 September 2019, the syndicate’s principal runner, Ong Kok Hua (“Ong”) aged 62, was convicted and sentenced to a total of 50 months’ imprisonment for 41 charges relating to 16 staged accidents from 2010 to 2013 and claims amounting to S$481,696, of which S$162,583 were paid out.
Sometime around 2010, Ong was recruited into the motor insurance fraud syndicate. Acting under Tang’s and the other co-mastermind’s instructions, Ong allowed his particulars to be reported as purported drivers of motor vehicles involved in purportedly genuine accidents, recruited other persons to participate in the scams, as ‘phantom’ drivers or passengers, and obtained vehicles to be used in the staged accidents. The breakdown of his charges are as follows:
- 38 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat;
- 2 counts of abetment to the giving false information to public servant; and
- 1 count of abetment in the fabricating of false evidence in a judicial proceeding.
Recruiter, Eswaran S/O Rajasevran
On 10 February 2020, the recruiter, Eswaran S/O Rajasevran (“Eswaran”) aged 38, was convicted and sentenced to a total of 7 years’ imprisonment and 3 strokes of the cane for 14 charges relating to 5 staged accidents from 2011 to 2012 and claims amounting to S$160,039, of which S$24,067 were paid out; and one charge under Section 31(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185, Rev Ed 2008.
Investigations revealed that Eswaran had assisted the syndicate to source and also recruited other persons to source for vehicles to be used in staged accidents for the purposes of submitting fraudulent insurance claims. The breakdown of his charges are as follows:
- 1 count of failing to provide urine specimen;
- 13 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to cheat; and
- 1 count of abetment to the giving false information to public servant.
The following are the punishments for the respective offences:
- Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 carries a punishment of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and shall also be liable to a fine;
- Giving false information to public servant under Section 182 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 carries an imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, which may extend to $5,000, or with both.
- Driving a motor vehicle on a road in a manner which is dangerous to the public under Section 64(1) of the Road Traffic Act, Chapter 276 carries a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.
- Fabricating of false evidence in a judicial proceeding under Section 193 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 carries a punishment of an imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
- Failing to provide urine specimen under Section 31(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 185 (Rev Ed 2008) punishable under Section 33A(1) of the said Act (for repeat consumption of specified drugs) carries a punishment of an imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 7 years, and not less than 3 strokes and not more than 6 strokes of the cane.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
13 February 2020 @ 4:00 PM