Freelance internet advertiser jailed 8 weeks for cheating

SINGAPORE : A freelance internet advertiser has been sentenced to eight weeks’ jail for cheating.

Ang Han Siong, 23, cheated seven men and a company of more than S$6,300 between November 2010 and July 2011.

He admitted to nine charges.

The prosecution proceeded on three of them.

Ang had actively promoted himself as a seller of United States Dollar (USD)—denominated PayPal funds.

PayPal funds are a medium of electronic payment commonly used to pay for goods and services for online transactions and can be converted to and from hard currencies.

Ang promoted himself as a seller who gave favourable exchange rates on a local internet forum.

Victims would approach Ang to enquire about the USD—denominated PayPal funds available for purchase.

Ang’s modus operandi would be to promise them that he would transfer Sing dollars in exchange for the USD monies.

Defence lawyer Grace Mariaraja told the court during mitigation that Ang has made restitution of more than S$1,000 to about half of the victims.

She said Ang comes from a dysfunctional family and was overwhelmed by his financial difficulties which led him to commit the offences.

Having heard the prosecution and defence, District Judge Low Wee Ping said he was initially considering sentences in terms of months.

But the judge said that since the prosecution has asked for eight weeks, he will follow the recommendations.

He noted that the sum involved in Ang’s case is not that high.

Ang could have been jailed up to 10 years and fined on each count.

— CNA/ms