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A former regular officer of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was charged in court on Monday (Nov 10) for allegedly cheating 16 victims out of $145,250 in total.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Song Yong Pang, Benjamin, a 37-year-old Singaporean man, was charged with 18 counts of cheating and dishonestly inducing a delivery of property.<\/p>\n
At the time of the alleged offences, Song, a captain in the SAF, was said to have deceived 16 individuals into giving him monies totalling $145,250 on the pretext of investments or to pay for his mother’s medical bills.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Nov 9, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said Song had used these monies to service his debts and expenses.<\/p>\n
The alleged offences took place over almost three years between May 2021 and March 2024.<\/p>\n
13 of the eighteen charges faced by Song are amalgamated charges under Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amalgamated charges are when multiple alleged incidents are taken together and charged as a single offence.<\/p>\n
Song is currently out on bail of $100,000. His case will be heard again on Dec 8.<\/p>\n
Those convicted for cheating can be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail, fined, or both.<\/p>\n
Any person convicted of an amalgamated charge may face twice the amount of punishment liable for the offence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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