Case of fraudulent vehicle transactions reported on 28 July 2024 and adequacy of interim safeguards

Question:

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs with reference to the case reported on 28 July 2024 involving a dealer taking vehicles without payment (a) whether the Ministry can provide an update on the police investigations into the alleged fraudulent vehicle transactions; and (b) whether legal safeguards or interim measures were adequate to prevent the persons under investigation from engaging in similar transactions while investigations were ongoing. 

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. The alleged car dealer has been charged in Court on 8 November 2024 and 2 April 2026 for a total of 12 counts of Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code. He has been remanded and prosecution is in progress.

2. Investigations into cases of alleged fraud, especially cases like this, are typically complex and may take time. The Police would need to gather sufficient evidence to prove that there is a fraudulent intent to cheat and not a case of genuine business failure.

3. While the case is ongoing, there are levers to prevent the accused from reoffending. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Police can freeze any bank accounts that are suspected to contain funds from illicit activities. If any arrestable offences are disclosed, the Police may also arrest the suspects. Prior to the release of arrested persons from the Police’s custody, or if the person has been brought before the court, bail conditions would be set. This would include a condition to not commit any offence while on bail. If bail conditions are breached, it may lead to the forfeiture of bail money, or revocation of bail, and the accused would be remanded in custody.

4. For this case, the Police had also worked with other relevant government agencies and private companies, to ensure that the dealer and his companies would not be able to perform motoring transactions or post advertisements on motoring platforms.