Ex-insurance agent jailed for pocketing nearly S$30,000 from client over 2 years

SINGAPORE — Instead of helping his long-standing client renew his company’s insurance policies, a former insurance agent ended up misappropriating almost S$30,000 meant for that purpose.

Robin Sim Kia Wee, 41, was sentenced to seven months’ jail on Monday (Dec 3) after pleading guilty to three charges of cheating and giving his client, Mr Tay Eng Chuan, a forged document. Seven other similar charges were considered for sentencing.

Mr Tay, 59, director of Tay Eng Chuan General Contractor, is the prosecution’s prime witness in an ongoing high-profile corruption trial involving a former Ang Mo Kio Town Council general manager. 

Sim had been an insurance agent with AIG since 2002, but was suspended in April 2010 for compliance issues involving outstanding premium payments owed to AIG. His employment was terminated in September 2011.

Sim was also concurrently employed by AIA, before being fired in August 2012.

The court heard that sometime around May 1 in 2011, Sim approached Mr Tay and offered to help him renew his company’s work injury compensation policy for one year. Mr Tay had been buying insurance policies for himself and the company through Sim since 2008.

Mr Tay then gave Sim a cheque for about S$8,445 as payment for the policy renewal. Sim deposited the cheque into his own company’s bank account with OCBC, but did not renew the policy.

About a year later, Sim — who had been fired by AIG at this point — again approached Mr Tay with the same offer. This time, Mr Tay gave him a cheque for about S$7,787.

Sim also gave his client a forged letter with the logo and letterhead of Chartis Singapore Insurance, which was what AIG was known as then. The letter contained details of the policy coverage and renewal quotation for the next year.

Court documents stated that Sim also deceived Mr Tay into believing he would help renew with AIA his company’s medical group insurance policy for foreign workers. This took place from around December 2010 to February 2013.

In total, Sim misappropriated S$28,845 from Mr Tay. He has since made full restitution.

Calling for seven months’ imprisonment, Deputy Public Prosecutor Thiam Jia Min said that Sim had taken advantage of his position of trust and friendship with Mr Tay, who had been his client since 2008.

For cheating, Sim could have been jailed up to three years and/or fined. For using a forged document, he could have been jailed up to four years and/or fined.