Indian-origin journey agent jailed for 20 weeks in Singapore over SGD 35,000 fraud
An Indian-origin lady, who labored as a journey agent in Singapore, was on Tuesday sentenced to twenty weeks in jail for misappropriating 35,000 Singapore {dollars} (SGD) from prospects who paid her for tour packages to India and Dubai.
According to a report in TODAY newspaper, S Leelavadi, 55, cheated no less than eight victims over 19 faux journeys to India and the town of Dubai, together with an 82-year-old lady. Leelavadi labored as a contract journey agent for over a decade with out the requisite licence, the report stated.Earlier this yr, Leelavadi pleaded responsible to at least one legal breach of belief cost and two counts of practising as a journey agent with no licence from the Singapore Tourism Board. Seven different comparable fees had been considered for sentencing, the report stated.According to the report, Leelavadi began working as a contract journey agent someday in 2000 and joined a licensed journey company in 2004. Later, she began an unregistered company of her personal the place she informed prospects that she booked excursions to India and Dubai. She suggested them on how one can journey there, the place to remain and their itinerary, and gave them a citation for his or her desired tour.As an preliminary fee, Leelavadi’s prospects paid her SGD 500 which she stated was essential to make the related bookings. In the months earlier than the departure date, she would chase them for the steadiness funds whereas sending them itineraries and advising them on numerous features of their journeys, reminiscent of insurance coverage, foreign money alternate and native excursions, the report stated.However, when the departure date drew shut or had handed, Leelavadi would deceive the purchasers that her mom was hospitalised or within the intensive care unit, in order that they might postpone the journey or settle for a refund. When prospects pressed her for airplane tickets so they may go on their very own, she would say she couldn’t present them.Using this scheme, Leelavadi pocketed SGD 34,950 from eight victims between 2013 and 2017, the report stated.As of mid-last yr, Leelavadi had made full restitution to her victims.Leelavadi is not going to start serving her sentence instantly as she intends to file an attraction, the report stated.Also Read: Two Indian nationals plead responsible to conspiracy of fraud in USAlso Read: Indian-origin driver jailed for 15 months in US for cash laundering
