Malaysian who used cloned cards to withdraw from DBS ATMs gets 6 years' jail

A Malaysian man has been sentenced to six years' jail for using cloned cards to withdraw money at DBS automated teller machines (ATMs) in Singapore. 

Chia Soon Lee, 49, withdrew cash fraudulently four times in Jurong on 19 February this year.

The court heard that he withdrew a total of $6,200 from various ATMs in Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Boon Lay Place and IMM Shopping Centre. 

A day after he committed the offences (19 February), DBS said several customers had reported unauthorised cash withdrawals from their accounts.

Chia was caught on 14 June at Woodlands Checkpoint. 

Investigations showed Chia was a member of a syndicate based in Malaysia. 

He was recruited in February by a loan shark in Kuala Lumpur to clear his debts. 

Chia's accomplices are still at large. 

During sentencing on Thursday, Senior District Judge Liew Thiam Leng said the case has an impact on the financial institutions here and stressed the need to protect public users from such financial scams.

He added that the use computer systems and equipment to pilfer money would affect the security of financial institutions. 

For his offences, Chia could have been jailed up to 12 years and nine months, and fined.