Probation for 22-year-old who rented, drove cars without licence by using mother's Singpass account

SINGAPORE — A 22-year-old woman who duped car-sharing firm Tribecar into allowing her to repeatedly rent vehicles was sentenced to 18 months’ probation on Wednesday (Oct 19).

Kylie Lee Wen Hui, who was 21 at the time and did not have a valid driving licence, used her mother’s Singpass account to create a Tribecar account.

She earlier admitted to one charge each of cheating by personation and driving without a valid Class 3 licence. Three other charges, including unauthorised access to computer material, were taken into consideration for sentencing.

Under the terms of her probation, she also cannot drive or obtain a driving licence for 18 months.

She has to remain indoors from 11pm to 6am, perform 40 hours of community service, and undergo psychiatric treatment as required.

Her parents posted a bond of S$5,000 to ensure her good behaviour during the probation period.

Probation is usually offered to young offenders between 16 and 21 years old. The sentence does not result in a recorded criminal conviction, and offenders will be able to continue with their education or employment while serving their sentence.

The court previously heard that Lee first accessed her 53-year-old mother’s Singpass account through the older woman’s mobile phone in October last year. Singpass is a government-developed authentication system for e-services.

After obtaining her mother’s National Identity Registration Card number from the Singpass account, Lee used it to create a Tribecar account without her mother’s knowledge and consent.

Between Oct 11 and Nov 4 last year, she rented cars 21 times using the account. 

On Nov 4 at close to 11pm, she was driving along Seletar Aerospace Drive when a traffic police officer stopped her at a roadblock. The officer then discovered that she did not have a Class 3 driving licence.

When she pleaded guilty in July, she told the court that she had given into peer pressure but was “trying to do better”.

Those convicted of cheating by personation can be jailed for up to five years or fined, or both.

Those who drive without a valid licence can be jailed for up to three years or fined up to S$10,000, or both. Repeat offenders can face up to twice that punishment.