Man gets 40 months' jail for posing as female gynaecologist to receive nude pictures from women seeking treatment

SINGAPORE — While posing as a female doctor on various online platforms such as Facebook, Ooi Chuen Wei tricked dozens of women into sending him photographs and videos of their private parts.

By sharing a medical plan that was purportedly approved by Gleneagles Medical Centre, Ooi convinced his victims to film themselves and send the material to him for his feedback.

He pulled off the ruse from 2018 to 2021, accumulating 919 videos and photos before a victim reported him to the police.

On Wednesday (Oct 26), the 37-year-old Malaysian man was sentenced in a district court to three years and four months' jail.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of cheating by impersonation, with another 15 charges taken into consideration for sentencing.

CREATED FAKE IDENTITY

The court heard that Ooi created a Facebook account using the moniker “Dr Janice Lee Yan Hooi” in late 2016. He used a photo of a random Malaysian female to gain his victims’ trust.

He initially added men and women as friends to his fake account in order to create a false impression that the account was legitimate. He also created accounts on social media platform Instagram and professional career networking site LinkedIn with a similar profile and name.

He then began adding females, specifically targeting Chinese women because he needed them to be able to read Mandarin. He also prepared documents with the logo of Gleneagles Medical Centre.

Once a victim accepted his request to connect on these platforms, he introduced himself as Dr Janice Lee from Gleneagles.

He then sent the victims a message in Mandarin, in which he said he was a gynaecologist who wanted to spread awareness about a medical plan for their breasts and vaginas.

He proposed monthly medical consultations and explained how they would participate in the plan, which he said was approved by Gleneagles.

He also got them to fill in a Google survey form that had questions on their sex life as well as genital development.

Ooi avoided speaking to them over the phone in order not to blow his cover.

He emailed them after they filled in the survey forms, telling them what to take note of for genital and breast care. He also sent them reference photos of what they should send him, and gave them step-by-step instructions on how to massage their private parts.

He lied that this was for him to diagnose any issues with their body and suggest a treatment plan.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) R Arvindren told the court that at least 35 women believed his lies and sent him photos of their genitals, either over email or WeChat messaging platform.

One victim sent him 34 photos and 11 videos on 14 occasions between January and October last year.

VICTIM REALISED NO SUCH DOCTOR EXISTS

His offences came to light on July 24 last year when another victim lodged a police report, saying she had fallen prey to a scam.

She had grown suspicious of Ooi’s actions and conducted her own research before realising there was no such doctor from Gleneagles.

Police officers raided Ooi’s home on Nov 11 last year and seized multiple electronic devices, including three laptops and five mobile phones.

During investigations, he admitted to the scheme and described his modus operandi in detail.

DPP Arvindren said that there was no evidence that he circulated or distributed the material. Investigators also found that he had unsuccessfully attempted to get seven other victims to send him photos and videos of their genitals.

On Wednesday, the prosecutor sought at least 44 months’ jail. He described it as a telemedicine ruse and argued that Ooi showed a high degree of premeditation and planning.

In mitigation, Ooi’s defence counsel, Mr Lee Terk Yang, told Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan that there was no physical contact between his client and the victims.

The lawyer from Flint & Battery LLC said that Ooi lost his job last year and broke up with his “soon-to-be fiancee”. He also could not return to Malaysia to visit his family and lives in a rented apartment here.

Mr Lee did not elaborate on Ooi's previous occupation.

“In the last one year, his life has been in limbo. He is a changed man — he is repentant and we humbly ask you to take this into consideration in giving him mercy,” added Mr Lee.

Nevertheless, the judge pointed out that personal circumstances are generally not mitigatory unless they are exceptional.

Those convicted of cheating by impersonation can be jailed up to five years or fined, or punished with both.