3 weeks’ jail, fine for cop impersonator who tried to cheat prostitutes

SINGAPORE — Knowing that the prostitutes were unfamiliar with the English language, and were unlikely to report his misdeeds, a 29-year-old man pretended to be a policeman and tried to extort money from them.

For his offences, Sherman Lim Chiang Khai was sentenced to three weeks in prison and fined S$1,500 on Tuesday (June 28), but he plans to appeal.

He faced five charges of impersonating a policeman and fraudulently obtaining a Xiaomi handphone from a prostitute. However, only two charges were proceeded with.

According to court documents, Lim had called Ms Liang Yan, 29, to fix an appointment for massage services around noon on Oct 23, 2015, after seeing her advertisements online.

Ms Liang, who also offers sexual services, arranged to meet him in a Balestier apartment an hour later.

When Lim arrived, Ms Liang led him into her room and closed the door. He then told her that he was a police officer and showed her two white and blue cards attached to a lanyard.

She was unable to read the cards, which had English words.

He asked Ms Liang to produce her identification documents, and she, in turn, pleaded with him not to arrest her.

“(Lim) told he that he could let her go if she helped him. (He) then told the victim that he had financial difficulties and asked the victim to hand him S$6,000,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jean Ting.

Ms Liang continued to plead with him, saying that she only had S$100 with her.

Lim eventually left, and Ms Liang called the police to say that she had met an officer who asked for money. She was instructed to inform the police if Lim contacted her again.

Five days later, Lim got in touch with Ms Liang to arrange for another appointment. An accomplice, 34-year-old Chan Ching San, drove Lim to Balestier and acted as a look-out.

Ms Liang called the police, and two hours later, they arrested Lim and Chan near the apartment.

During a search of the car, a Xiaomi handphone — which did not belong to Lim or Chan — was found in the boot.

DPP Ng pointed out that Lim had planned the scam and preyed on multiple victims — at least three prostitutes. Given the nature of their work, they were unlikely to report the matter to the police, she added.

District Judge Salina Ishak noted that Lim’s actions had “great implication” on the integrity of the police force. “He chose to target victims unfamiliar with the local authorities, susceptible to deception as they were unfamiliar with English.”

Lim is currently out on a S$20,000-bail, while his accomplice’s case is still before the courts.