Indian-origin Singaporean taxi driver jailed for stealing in Singapore

An Indian-origin Singaporean taxi driver, Michael Raj, 48, was sentenced to one year and five months in jail after pleading guilty to four theft charges including stealing SGD 43,400 worth of jewelry from his 70-year-old mother. Facing financial difficulties, Raj also stole three Rolex watches worth over SGD 200,000 from sleeping passengers on separate occasions and sold them, as reported by The Straits Times. His crime spree began with the theft of his mother’s jewelry between May and June 2021.

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Indian Son Steals and Pawns Mother’s Valuables

Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Shi Yun stated in court that the victim had securely locked her valuables in a drawer within a cupboard, with the key stored in a separate drawer of the same cupboard. Despite this, Michael pawned the valuables at various pawnshops without his mother’s consent to pay off his debts. On July 5, 2021, his mother discovered several pieces of her jewelry were missing. She confronted him two days later and subsequently reported the theft to the police. Michael has since made partial restitution of approximately SGD 3,000 to her.

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Taxi Driver Steals Three Rolex Watches

Michael then removed the man’s Rolex watch, worth SGD45,000, from his wrist.The following month, he stole a second Rolex watch. Worth nearly SGD 67,300, from a 44-year-old male passenger who had also fallen asleep in his taxi.The two passengers alerted the police when they found their valuables missing.Their watches were not recovered and Michael has made no restitution to the two victims .On June 15, 2023, Michael had stolen third Rolex watch, worth SGD 88,000. From a 30-year-old man who had boarded the offender’s taxi before nodding off from there.