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SINGAPORE: A 23-year-old woman was found guilty on Wednesday (September 30) of cheating on an elderly woman out of almost S $ 50,000, lying to her that she would help her find a husband.
Soh Chih Hui was convicted after a trial on a count of cheating the victim out of S $ 49,600 nine times in 2015.
Soh was introduced to the victim by her mother, who was a friend from the victim’s elementary school, according to court documents. Later, the victim also worked for Soh’s father at her bak kut teh position.
The victim testified that Soh had promised to introduce her to a man who would become her boyfriend and, eventually, her husband.
Soh claimed the man was 51 years old, worked in a bank and earned a monthly salary of S $ 7,000, the victim testified. Soh also said that the man owned a temple in Changi and showed him a photograph of this alleged man, the victim said.
The victim, then 56, said that Soh appeared to be possessed by two deities and told her that she needed to acquire good karma before she could be with her future husband.
To do so, the victim had to sing prayers, perform rituals, and make offerings. They also told him to give Soh cash to buy designer cosmetics, shoes and clothes.
Between April and October 2015, the victim gave Soh $ 49,600.
The victim said she realized she had been misled in January 2016 when Soh asked her to sell her HDB apartment.
The victim eventually filed a police report.
The prosecution said Soh had treated the victim “in a similar manner to the defendant’s personal ATM,” calling the victim whenever he wanted money, even when it was in the middle of the night.
The victim stated that she was “very scared” and would give Soh whatever amount she asked for.
The victim was a superstitious person, prosecutors said, going to temples to pray regularly and attending religious practice sessions, even changing his name for good luck.
She gave her savings to Soh to perform rituals and prayers and to buy sweets and offerings because Soh promised to help her find a husband, prosecutors said.
They said the victim was “clearly naive and simple-minded”, had only a high school education and had odd jobs her entire life. Soh exploited her for these qualities.
The victim gave Soh part of the salary he earned working at the position owned by Soh’s father and also borrowed money from his brother.
Soh had argued in his defense that a statement he had given to the police admitting to the crime was made involuntarily.
He will return to court for mitigation and sentencing in December.
For cheating, she could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
