SINGAPORE: As part of an elaborate plan to cheat unsuspecting victims of their money in rigged games, a man allegedly posed as women on dating applications and invited potential dates to play mahjong.
When a victim turned up, the game would begin. The host and every other player had been trained for a specific role with the aim of ensuring the victim lost.
In total, the alleged mastermind estimated the total earnings across 19 games in 2024 to be more than S$100,000 (US$78,190).
Olivia Chin Hui Zhen, a 31-year-old Singaporean woman who functioned as host and player, was the first among the group to plead guilty on Thursday (Oct 1).
She was sentenced to eight months’ jail and fined S$3,000 (US$2,350).
Chin admitted to four charges of conspiracy to cheat and a fifth of unlawful gambling under the Gambling Control Act.
Another 32 charges were taken into consideration.
THE CASE
The alleged co-conspirators are: Marcus Ang Yi Sheng, Jason Chin Yi Sheng, Kristy Tan Siew Boon, Leong Ying Liat, Penelope Kek Yong Ru, Chloe Low Zhiyi, Belinda Chee Yan Lin and Li Yongyi Joaquin.
The court heard that Ang allegedly devised the conspiracy around April 2024.
He created fictional dating profiles of women on OkCupid and Tinder, including a Telegram username on the profiles.
When potential dates contacted him, he masqueraded as the women and invited them to play mahjong, prosecutors said.
Once the game was successfully set up, Ang would allegedly direct one of his female accomplices to pose as the woman chatting with the victim and then host the game.
The games took place at various flats, including Tan’s place as well as at SAFRA Toa Payoh.
Ang is said to have arranged four-player mahjong games comprising three accomplices and the victim.
The accomplices were to use fake names and relationships assigned to them. For example, they would sometimes pose as friends, siblings or strangers.
Ang also decided on the rules and rates used to calculate winnings for each session, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Gladys Lim.
He would also arrange for a reserve player who would observe the victim’s style of play and inform the rest. The reserve would also take over if the main players got tired.
The more experienced mahjong players in the group, including Leong, would train the rest.
There were various roles – for example, one player was to defend against the prospect of the victim winning, another was to form a winning hand as soon as possible and another to throw winning tiles needed by another conspirator.
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