Crime Life Emerges for Malaysian Man in Singapore due to Accumulated Gambling Debts
Posted on: March 9, 2022, 09:09h.Last updated on: March 9, 2022, 11:59h.
Swinging from Loansharks to Lockups: Lim Cheng Siang's Struggle in SingaporeAsia Pacific GamingGaming BusinessGlobal Gaming
Lim Cheng Siang, a Malaysian citizen turned construction foreman in Singapore, found himself in a tight spot due to his gambling habits. Racking up a whopping SGD$50,000 (US$36,850) in debt, Lim decided to take a reckless shortcut to resolve his financial mess.
The 46-year-old, who apparently wasn't lucky at the casinos, was left with a huge debt combined with a challenging repayment plan. He needed to shell out SGD$5,000 (US$3,685) a month, despite earning only SGD$2,900 (US$2,137) a month. In desperation, Lim resorted to doing the unthinkable.
The stoight-knuckled attempt to cover his debts led Lim to commit a robbery at a pawn shop last September. Disguising his ill intentions under a guise of interest in a piece of jewelry, he threatened the store's employees with a knife and made away with SGD$35,000 (US$25,791).
A Robbery Gone Awry
While the robbery gave Lim a temporary financial boost, it left him short of the amount he needed to cover his loans. Instead of admitting defeat, he thought he could restore his fortunes by gambling at Marina Bay Sands casino. Unfortunately, his run of bad luck continued, and he ended up with even more debt.
On the run for two days, the authorities found him in his rental apartment, which he failed to secure properly. His lack of precaution allowed the police to uncover his identity through his fingerprints. When they apprehended him, they discovered some of the stolen money - SGD$4,474 (US$3,294) and the gold necklace he stole, worth SGD$10,000 (US$7,364).
Caught in the Act
Upon questioning, Lim admitted his actions, stating that he had used some of the loot to pay off his gambling debts and shared some of it with his girlfriend.
Lim appeared before court this past Tuesday, where he faced the music for his actions. He was sentenced to serve two and a half years in prison and receive "six strokes of the cane." His sentence began immediately upon his arrest, meaning he still has about two years to serve before he can walk free.
Although the judge could have handed down a maximum sentence of 10 years and six strokes of the cane, the severity of Lim's crime and the circumstances surrounding it earned him a sentence closer to the minimum.
- Although Lim Cheng Siang's gambling habits led him to amass a substantial debt, he resorted to a dangerous act to resolve it, by committing a robbery at a pawn shop in Singapore.
- The robbery, committed under the guise of interest in a piece of jewelry, resulted in Lim making away with SGD$35,000 (US$25,791), but left him short of the amount needed to cover his debts.
- Despite his run of bad luck at the Marina Bay Sands casino, Lim continued to gamble with the stolen money, accumulating even more debt.
- In the general news section of "Cheng's World" on March 9, 2022, it was reported that Lim was caught, convicted, and sentenced to serve two and a half years in prison and receive "six strokes of the cane" for his crime.