On 25 April 2025, the High Court allowed the Prosecution’s appeal against the sentences imposed on Bijabahadur Rai s/o Shree Kantrai (“Bijabahadur”) and Sufandi Bin Ahmad (“Sufandi”). The High Court increased their aggregate imprisonment terms by 2 years and 6 months each, resulting in total sentences of 11 years’ imprisonment for Bijabahadur and 9 years’ imprisonment for Sufandi. The High Court also dismissed their appeals as well as that of another accomplice Kok Chiew Leong (“Kok”) against their conviction and sentences.
The three men, along with two others, Juma’at Bin Johari and Mohamed Haron Bin Hassan, were earlier sentenced to imprisonment on 20 August 2024 for their involvement in housing loan frauds committed against a bank in Singapore. More information can be found in the Annex.
Bijabahadur and Kok appealed against their conviction and sentences while
Sufandi appealed against his sentence only. The Prosecution cross-appealed against the aggregate sentences imposed on Bijabahadur and Sufandi on the grounds that they were manifestly inadequate.
In its judgment, the High Court considered, amongst other factors, that Bijabahadur was the driver of the schemes and that Sufandi had actively participated, that separate fraudulent transactions had taken place in respect of two properties, and that substantial loss was caused to the bank. The High Court agreed with the Prosecution that the total sentences imposed on Bijabahadur and Sufandi were manifestly inadequate and increased their sentences accordingly.
Cheating a financial institution, such as by the submission of forged documents or provision of false information (including false or inflated income information) for the purposes of obtaining mortgage loans, is a serious offence. The sentences imposed on Bijabahadur and Sufandi by the High Court reflect the seriousness of such offences and the consequences if convicted. The Police takes a serious view of such offences and will not relent in taking tough action against offenders.
Under Section 420 of the Penal Code, whoever cheats and thereby dishonestly induces the person deceived to deliver any property to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Under Section 471 of the Penal Code, whoever dishonestly uses as genuine any document which he knows to be a forged document, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 4 years, or with fine, or with both.
Under Section 423 of the Penal Code, whoever fraudulently executes any deed which purports to transfer, and which contains any false statement relating to the consideration for such transfer, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both.
Annex
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 May 2025 @ 5:30 PM