A woman who met a 25-year-old man from China through social media ended up being held hostage for 12 hours at Marina Bay Sands Hotel and robbed of S$70,000.
The two arranged to meet at MBS Hotel on Mar 20, 2021, and had sex during the encounter, reported the Chinese-language newspaper Zaobao.
Prior to the meeting, the man, named Huang Yang, had already planned to rob the woman, so he could pay off his debts from online gambling and failed business in China.
When the woman finished her shower and exited the bathroom naked, Huang ambushed her and used the tape he had prepared earlier to tie the victim’s hands and legs.
He then told the woman he was at his wit’s end and demanded her money.
It was reported that he coerced the woman to reveal her phone’s passcode and the PIN to access her bank account after she was physically pushed forcefully.
Huang successfully transferred funds from the woman’s account throughout the night into several third-party bank accounts under his instructions.
When the woman woke up the following morning, Huang told her to make some transactions using her credit card.
Zaobao reported that the woman lost a total of 341,200 yuan (S$72,800).
Not satisfied with the amount, Huang tried taking a 300,000 yuan loan under the woman’s name but failed as it was rejected by the bank.
Huang kept the woman tied up throughout the night and monitored her when she used the toilet.
When he was releasing the victim, he threatened her with her nude photos and information on her family.
Immediately after release, the woman tried cancelling the recent transactions with her bank, but it failed.
Upon her friend’s persuasion, the woman filed a police report, and Huang was arrested on the same day.
Huang was sentenced to three years and two months jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Mar 28, 2022.
The prosecution had asked for a heavier sentence, as Huang stole a considerable amount from the woman and held her hostage for an extended period. /TISG
https://theindependent.sg/family-makes-maid-sit-on-the-floor-outside-restaurant-while-they-have-dinner-at-mbs-din-tai-fung/