AMK conman gets 13 months' jail for faking 6 accidents, punching police officer during arrest

A man involved in a series of fake accidents, was sentenced to 13 months’ jail on Thursday (July 20) for attempted cheating, among other offences. 

The accused, 34-year-old Tsai Swee Kiat, would throw himself against moving cars and asked the drivers for compensation. 

Tsai attempted to cheat six people, and on three instances, the drivers had given him money out of pity or simply to send him away, as they had young children on board, reports Shin Min Daily News via Lianhe Zaobao.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordan Li noted that none of the drivers fell for Tsai’s trick, as they had been driving slowly.

Moreover, some personally witnessed Tsai jumping onto their vehicles. 

The issue came to light after  Mr Chin Chai Ren, a driver whom Tsai had tried to cheat, saw him talking to an elderly Malay couple at a sheltered walkway in Ang Mo Kio Street 31.

He had recognised Tsai as the conman who attempted his car scam on him a day earlier. 

Mr Chin immediately called the police and advised the Malay couple not to give Tsai money. 

His actions angered Tsai, who punched him in the jaw, before escaping.

The court also heard that on Dec 14, 2016, Tsai had jumped in front of the taxi driven by Mr Toh Wei Keat, bumping against it as the driver was attempting to move off.

The incident happened at Block 214, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.

After Toh got out of his taxi to investigate, Tsai claimed that Toh had collided into him and asked for compensation, to which Toh refused, as he had caught Toh jumping in front of his vehicle. 

On Jan 2, 2017, Tsai tried his trick on another driver, Mr Tan Meng Hsiung at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, demanding a compensation between S$100 and S$150.

In response, Mr Tan called the police. 

When police officers arrived at the scene, Tsai tried to flee. 

He resisted arrest, punching Special Constabulary Sergeant Mohamed Idris Zakir Hussain in the face.

The officer suffered a contusion to the upper lip region and was given two days' sick leave.

Tsai pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted cheating and casing hurt, and another count of causing harm to a officer of the law in order to deter him from carrying out his duties.

Tsai was also charged with causing hurt in a dispute in an event unrelated to the accident scams.