An Indian-origin taxi driver in Singapore has been found guilty in four cases of theft. It is alleged that a Singaporean taxi driver used to steal the belongings of passengers sleeping in his cab. In this case the court has sentenced him to one year and five months imprisonment. According to Singapore Police, the accused had also stolen his 70-year-old mother’s jewellery, which was worth S$43,400.
They stole watches worth S$200,000
According to PTI, quoting the Straits Times report, it was revealed that the accused has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Raj. Due to financial difficulties and hardships, he had, on separate occasions, stolen three Rolex watches, worth a total of more than S$200,000, from three passengers sleeping in his cab and sold them.
Mother’s jewelery was stolen three years ago
According to the report, his crime spree started when he stole his mother’s jewelery between May and June 2021. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Shi Yun told the court that this was not a case of a careless victim (the accused’s mother) leaving her valuables out in the open. The victim’s valuables were locked in one drawer of the cupboard and its key was kept in another drawer of the same cupboard.
The loan was repaid by mortgaging the jewelery
After this, Michael pawned valuables in several pawnshops without his mother’s consent and paid off his debts. On July 5, 2021, her mother discovered that several of her jewelry pieces were missing. He talked to her about it after two days and then informed the police about the matter. Michael has since compensated him partially to the tune of SGD 3,000.
Rolex watch was stolen from the passenger’s wrist
On September 2, 2022, Michael was driving his taxi and at around 5 am in the morning, he found a 33-year-old man intoxicated near Orchard Towers Shopping Mall. When he reached the man’s hideout, the traveler was sleeping. After this, Michael immediately took out the Rolex watch worth SGD 45,000 from the man’s wrist and left from there.
Two passengers complained to the police
Then the following month he stole a second Rolex watch, worth approximately SGD 67,300, from a 44-year-old male passenger who had fallen asleep in his taxi. When both the passengers found their valuables missing, they informed the police. The court heard that their watches were not recovered and Michael has not made any compensation to the two victims.
Police recovered
On June 15, 2023, Michael Raj stole a third Rolex watch, worth SGD 88,000, from a 30-year-old man. That passenger had boarded the criminal’s taxi before going to sleep. The watch has since been recovered and returned after the victim filed a police report.
The accused wants to live an honest life
On July 30, defense lawyer Wei Hong Shern urged the court to sentence Michael to one year and three months in prison. V further said that he wants to start a new life honestly. He will serve his sentence and then dedicate himself to working and making up for lost time with his wife and daughter.