An Indian-origin Singaporean taxi driver was sentenced to one year and five months’ jail after being found guilty of four counts of theft, including that of his 70-year-old mother’s jewellery worth Singaporean dollars 43,400.
Financially strapped Michael Raj, 48, stole three Rolex watches, worth a total of more than S$200,000, from three sleeping passengers on separate occasions and sold them, The Straits Times reports.
His crime spree began when he stole his mother’s jewellery between May and June 2021.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Shi Yun told the court: “This was not a case of a careless victim who left her valuables out in the open.
“The victim’s (valuables) were locked in a drawer of a cupboard and (its) key was kept in another drawer of the same cupboard.” After that, Michael pawned the valuables at various pawn shops without his mother’s consent and paid off his debt.
On July 5, 2021, her mother discovered that many of her jewellery were missing.
Two days later, he confronted her about it and then reported the matter to the police.
Michael has so far awarded her partial compensation of about S$3,000.
On September 2, 2022, he was driving a taxi and picked up a 33-year-old man near Orchard Towers shopping mall at around 5 am for being in an inebriated condition.
When they reached their destination the traveler was sleeping.
Michael then took off the man’s Rolex watch worth SGD45,000 from his wrist.
The following month, he stole a second Rolex watch, worth around SGD 67,300, from a 44-year-old male passenger who fell asleep in his taxi.
When both the passengers found their valuables missing, they informed the police.
The court was told that their watches were not recovered and Michael did not pay any compensation to the two victims.
On 15 June 2023, Michael stole a third Rolex watch, valued at SGD 88,000, from a 30-year-old man who had fallen asleep before boarding the offender’s taxi.
After the victim filed a report with the police, the watch was recovered and returned to him.
On July 30, defence lawyer Wee Hong Shern urged the court to sentence Michael to one year and three months in prison.
Wee added: “He sincerely wants to start a new life. He will serve his sentence and then devote himself to working and making up for lost time with his wife and daughter.”