Woman Jailed For Conning Mildly-Intellectually Disabled Man Of $130K Using Lee Kuan Yew

Since the dawn of mankind, long before money was scraps of paper, humans were robbing, scamming, and killing each other to acquire more cash.

Just like potato chips, we can’t seem to get enough of it.

You and I make money the honourable way, of course, by selling handphones we found on the streets on Carousell.

Police: You’re selling what?

Gramophones, I meant gramophones.

Police: Uh, ok.

But, sadly, not everyone is as principled as you and me. Some people, like this lady, are willing to do whatever it takes to make some extra cash.

Woman Jailed For Conning Mildly-Intellectually Disabled Man Of $130K Using Lee Kuan Yew

A 71-year-old woman was sentenced to 27 months’ jail after she was found guilty of cheating a petrol pump attendant with a mild intellectual disability.

Back in 1999, the now 76-year-old victim was introduced to the woman, Tan Hwee Ngo, by a common friend, reported The Straits Times.

Soon after getting acquainted, Hwee Ngo told Tan that she needed money for Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Tan, who reportedly has a mild intellectual disability, believed her and withdrew his entire CPF savings in the Ordinary Account to help Hwee Ngo out (or rather, to help our first prime minister out).

Over $53,000 was credited into his bank account the following month.

Since he was busy with work, Tan asked their common friend, Ah Hiang, to transfer the money to Hwee Ngo, which she did.

It’s 2020, now, 21 years after making that withdrawal, but Tan hasn’t gotten back any of the CPF savings he lost.

That’s not all though.

Handed Over $500 of His Salary Every Month

Hwee Ngo, even after scamming Tan of such a large sum, convinced him to hand over at least $500 of his salary every month.

According to ST, Tan passed the money to Ah Hiang, who then handed a “substantial portion” to Hwee Ngo.

Considering that he had given at least $500 of his salary every month from 2000 to 2013, this means Tan handed over a total of at least $78,000.

The most heartbreaking thing about this scam is that Tan only earned between $700 and $1,300 a month during this period.

In total, Hwee Ngo had cheated Tan of at least $130,000.

Niece Uncovered the Scam

In 2013, Tan moved in with his niece, Madam Pamela Lim, and her husband.

The couple noticed that Tan would borrow money from them and Lim’s mother almost every week, which they found odd, considering he did not have any expenses to cover.

Then, Lim found out Tan had withdrawn all his CPF monies when he turned 55, prompting her and her husband to ask Tan what was going on.

“Mr Tan explained that the accused and Ah Hiang told him something about a failed business investment involving Yeo Hiap Seng, which was taken over by the government, such that he now needed to make repayments to ‘Lao Lee’ (Mr Lee),” the prosecutor said.

Lim subsequently lodged a police report on 3 Feb, 2014.

Why Scam a Poor, Innocent Man?

The accused tried to blame Ah Hiang, who had died of heart disease before the trial started, but the court wasn’t buying it.

In any case, why would she scam a poor, innocent man like Tan? A man who makes a modest living and who even has a mild intellectual disability?

In an earlier police statement, Hwee Ngo admitted to cheating Tan and said it was because she needed money to gamble.

Hwee Ngo will be appealing against her conviction and sentence, according to ST. 

She only received a jail term of two years and three months, but she could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined for each count of cheating.

As I said, some people are willing to do whatever it takes to make some extra cash.