Jail for police NSF who took photos of colleague's debit card, used info to buy concert tickets worth $65
Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Asri also gave away his Singpass details, which were used to open bank accounts by scammers.
SINGAPORE - A full-time national serviceman stole his colleague's debit card details to buy concert tickets and also gave away his Singpass details, which were used to open a bank account that received scam proceeds.
Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Asri, 22, was sentenced to 18 weeks' jail on July 4 after pleading guilty to illegally obtaining personal information, and disclosing information from his Singpass account to an unknown individual.
On Jan 18, 2024, while at Clementi Police Division, Firdaus saw that his colleague, who was also an NSF , had left his wallet on his desk when he went to the toilet.
Firdaus removed the victim's debit card from the wallet and took photos of the front and back of it.
He then used the debit card details to purchase two tickets for an event at Drip Singapore, a nightclub at Concorde Shopping Mall.
Firdaus' acts came to light when the victim noticed two unauthorised transactions of $32.52 each on his debit card and made a police report.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mavis Ng said Firdaus has since made restitution to the victim.
Separately, in August 2023, Firdaus saw an advertisement posted on Telegram by an unknown individual promoting ways to earn money through investments.
He contacted the individual, who asked him to deposit $10 to get $30 in a few days.
When Firdaus said he had no money at the time, the individual offered $50 in exchange for his Singpass account details.
Firdaus agreed and handed the details to the individual, who did not pay him and blocked him on Telegram instead.
Using Firdaus' Singpass details, the individual created two bank accounts which saw over $110,000 flowing through them. Of that amount, a total of $17,500 in one account was traced to victims of rental scams, said DPP Ng.
Seeking a jail term of between five and six months, DPP Ng said those who hand over control of their bank accounts or disclose their Singpass credentials are 'a critical component that allows sophisticated organised criminal groups to commit scams'.
For this reason , the courts must thus take an uncompromising stance in meting out severe sentences for such offences.
In mitigation, Firdaus, who was unrepresented, pleaded for leniency and said: 'I regret what I have done, and I know I can be better than that. It was done out of greed.'
Referring to the jail term the prosecution sought, Firdaus said: 'Is there any way to avoid getting into prison... as I have to support my family. In six months, anything can happen if I'm away from my family.'
Those convicted of disclosing their Singpass account details for wrongful gain can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $10,000, or both.
For illegally obtaining personal information, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined $10,000, or both.
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