Magic school bus this is not. A school bus operator allegedly managed to hoodwink a number of schools and parents into believing that he would carry out transport services through his bus firm Sindoz Group.
38-year-old Adrian Lee Chong Boon would often fail to do so, even though he received payments that numbered in the thousands of dollars, The Straits Times reports. He appeared in court yesterday and was charged with four counts of cheating.
Last November, he allegedly cheated someone into handing him a cash cheque of $7,000 after he promised to provide school bus services to Eager Kids Montessory. In another case in the same month, he allegedly cheated another person into giving him $560 in advance payment for ferrying her grandson and grandson's friend to school.
Lee had already attracted infamy over the last three years among schools, and it was said that he would operate under different companies and different first names. His services were found to be unsatisfactory — minivans were often late and would break down on a few occasions.
He would fiercely insist on advance bus fees and signing contracts, but after money exchanged hands, he would not respond to calls or messages. The vile man would then threaten to sue them when parents and schools tried to end their contracts.
Red Swastika School and Coral Primary School were among the many schools who faced problems with Lee; both of which have paid at least $50,000 in total to Sindoz before they terminated contracts. At least 10 more schools are believed to be involved in his trickery.
Lee will appear in court once again on Aug 6, and he will face up to three years in jail and/or a fine should he be convicted.
Photo: Tamara Craiu via Flickr
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Magic school bus this is not. A school bus operator allegedly managed to hoodwink a number of schools and parents into believing that he would carry out transport services through his bus firm Sindoz Group.
38-year-old Adrian Lee Chong Boon would often fail to do so, even though he received payments that numbered in the thousands of dollars, The Straits Times reports. He appeared in court yesterday and was charged with four counts of cheating.
Last November, he allegedly cheated someone into handing him a cash cheque of $7,000 after he promised to provide school bus services to Eager Kids Montessory. In another case in the same month, he allegedly cheated another person into giving him $560 in advance payment for ferrying her grandson and grandson's friend to school.
Lee had already attracted infamy over the last three years among schools, and it was said that he would operate under different companies and different first names. His services were found to be unsatisfactory — minivans were often late and would break down on a few occasions.
He would fiercely insist on advance bus fees and signing contracts, but after money exchanged hands, he would not respond to calls or messages. The vile man would then threaten to sue them when parents and schools tried to end their contracts.
Red Swastika School and Coral Primary School were among the many schools who faced problems with Lee; both of which have paid at least $50,000 in total to Sindoz before they terminated contracts. At least 10 more schools are believed to be involved in his trickery.
Lee will appear in court once again on Aug 6, and he will face up to three years in jail and/or a fine should he be convicted.
Photo: Tamara Craiu via Flickr
Done reading? Sit back, relax and watch Coconuts TV: