Suspect, 38, nabbed for role in SEA Games scam

SINGAPORE — A 38-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected role in a SEA Games employment scam.

Earlier this week, TODAY reported that about 50 people — who had each paid S$35 to a man who called himself Karim — had turned up at a company to report for training as towel and laundry attendants, only to discover that they had fallen prey to an employment scam.

The police, who received a report about the scam on Monday, said yesterday that more than 50 individuals had responded to advertisements the suspect had posted on Facebook purporting to offer jobs for the Games.

The multi-sport event will be held in Singapore from June 5 to 16.

The suspect then interviewed victims for the jobs at various locations, said the police.

Following the interviews, he collected S$35 from each victim for “training fees and uniforms”.

The man then requested each victim to attend a compulsory three-day training course at a company in New Bridge Road. They discovered they had been cheated when he never turned up.

Following police investigations, the suspect was arrested in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 on Thursday night. The police also seized a notebook, mobile phones and an iPad.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be involved in two other theft cases in Marine Parade and Serangoon Central,” the police said.

The man will be charged in court today with the offence of cheating. If found guilty, he will face up to 10 years’ jail and a fine.

Urging the public to be wary of such scams, the police said individuals should seek verification from the relevant authorities, recruitment agencies or event organisers if they have doubts about job offers.