Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on ex-stepfather's instructions

Straits Times

2 days ago

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Nigel Tan, 19, was also promised by the older man a larger share of the proceeds from the sale of the watch.
SINGAPORE - Instructed by his former stepfather to steal a luxury watch worth more than $47,000 from a Carousell user, a teenager 'chickened out' three times before finally doing so with the help of a friend.
Nigel Tan, 19, was also promised by the older man a larger share of the proceeds from the sale of the watch.
Nigel was sentenced to reformative training on Aug 14 after pleading guilty to one count of cheating.
His former stepfather, Kyoshirocaeden Tan Lee Yu, 37, is still at large.
Nigel's accomplice Lucian Tan Keat Hong, 20, was also arrested, but court documents do not state if he has been charged.
Tan married Nigel's mother when the boy was about three years old. After the couple divorced in 2019, Nigel began living with Tan from 2022. The older man was unemployed, while Nigel worked as a bartender.
On April 22, 2024, Tan t old Nigel he needed money badly and asked for the youth's help to cheat someone into handing over an expensive watch, so they could steal and sell it.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF
Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort
Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea
Asia Citizenship for foreign talents: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son'
Business MyRepublic customers to see no immediate changes to existing services: StarHub
Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids
Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks
Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tung Shou Pin said: ' (Nigel) was shocked but agreed after Kyoshirocaeden repeatedly asked for the accused's help and reassured (him) that he would not be caught.'
Tan also suggested asking one of Nigel's friends to assist with the crime. Later that evening, they met Lucian, who agreed to their plan .
Tan then arranged two meetings with different watch sellers on April 23 and 24, 2024.
At both meetings, Lucian and Nigel inspected the watches but did not dare steal them. Instead, they returned each watch to the respective seller.
On April 25, Tan used Nigel's Carousell account to arrange a meeting with a Rolex watch owner.
The watch owner met the two youths and allowed them to inspect the watch, which was valued at about $47,800.
They negotiated and agreed on a price of $46,000. But once again, Nigel and Lucian did not steal the watch and instead said they would think about it.
When Nigel told Tan they did not follow through with the scheme , the latter promised to increase his and Lucian's share of the sales proceeds.
The two youths met the watch owner again half an hour later. After Lucian was allowed to wear the watch for Nigel to take photographs of it, they ran away from the meeting point in different directions. The watch owner chased but failed to catch them , and called the police.
Subsequently, Lucian passed Tan the watch and Tan transferred $5,000 into Nigel's girlfriend's bank account.
Nigel did not withdraw his share. Lucian withdrew $1,750 from the sum in the account. Both of them were later arrested.
DPP Tung called for Nigel to be sentenced to reformative training, while his lawyer from the Public Defender's Office Vadi PVSS pushed for probation, which would not leave a criminal record.
A probation officer had deemed Nigel not suitable for probation based on factors including his previous brushes with the law , for which he received conditional warnings.
Mr Vadi said Nigel's previous conditional warnings were not a finding of guilt.
'(For) this particular offence, he was under a very unfamiliar circumstance. The stepfather is there hovering over him and making him do certain things.
'He's no hardened criminal. He chickened out... he didn't want to do it (at first),' said the lawyer.
District Judge Carol Ling found him suitable for a minimum of six months' reformative training instead of probation.
She told Nigel that every action comes with consequences.
But she added: 'It doesn't define who you are, it doesn't determine who you're going to be. There will be fresh chapters of your life written after this.'