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Malaysian who overstayed in Singapore stole debit cards, bikes and mobile phone

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PHOTO: Getty Images

SINGAPORE — After his work permit was cancelled by his employer, he decided to remain in Singapore to find another job.

Song Yin, a 26-year-old Malaysian, was not successful in his job hunt. As his savings emptied, he turned to a life of crime to pay for his daily necessities.

On Wednesday (16 September), Song was jailed two months and seven weeks after he pleaded guilty to eight charges, including overstaying in Singapore for 190 days, and for stealing bicycles, a mobile phone, and debit cards. Another nine charges of a similar nature were taken into consideration for sentencing.

Song was also given three strokes of the cane, which is the mandatory minimum sentence for his offence under the Immigration Act. He was arrested by police officers on 22 July.

After his work permit was cancelled on 14 January this year, Song was not allowed to remain in Singapore. He decided to stay and find a job here.

By June, Song had not managed to find a job and had depleted his savings. He decided to commit offences to support his daily needs.

He stole bicycles from bicycle bays and sold them on marketplace platform Carousell for fast cash. He also stole a phone, ATM card, Passion card and 10 $50 notes, amongst other items belonging to a 66-year-old man, who was sleeping on a bench at an HDB void deck in Bedok North on 11 July.

The victim felt a tug on his bag and woke up to see Song walking away. He found his belongings missing when he checked his bag and made a police report.

Song also found a POSB debit card at Kembangan MRT Station and decided to make three unauthorised transactions. The owner of the card discovered the transactions when he checked his e-statement and made a police report.

He used another DBS ATM debit card which he found to make eight unauthorised transactions including buying five drinks at a vending machine. The owner of this card was making a purchase when she realised her card missing. She called the bank to cancel the card and discovered eight transactions not made by her on 22 July. She later lodged a police report.

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