Singapore sentences woman to 12 years’ jail for cheating boss into giving her US$2.78 million

A woman who cheated her boss at a real estate firm into giving her S$3.7 million (US$2.78 million) over almost a decade, including his life savings, was sentenced to 12 years’ jail on Wednesday.

Lynne Charlotte James persistently lied to the victim that she had become bankrupt and posed as government officials in emails to back up her lies.

After the 69-year-old man depleted his savings, he and his wife sold two of their condominium units as well as their personal possessions to raise funds for James.

When the couple ran out of cash, he resorted to borrowing S$1.1 million from his niece, who eventually flagged the case to the authorities.

The couple now cannot even afford to buy a two-room Housing Board flat, and stay in a rented home.

James, a 47-year-old Singaporean, was convicted of five counts of cheating last week. Seven other similar charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

She has not made any restitution to the victim.

She will begin serving her sentence on April 16 after asking for time to take care of her children and mother, and remains out on bail of S$100,000.

She pleaded guilty midway through her trial, which was delayed after she claimed she was suffering an asthmatic attack and could not breathe.

District Judge Shawn Ho told the court on Wednesday that it was a “heart-rending case”.

Due to the stress of the case, the victim suffered a stroke and almost divorced his wife. He currently has cancer.

His wife’s mental health took a downturn, and she sought psychiatric help, but had to stop treatment because they could not afford the medical bills. Their daughter also harmed herself.

The judge noted that James sent hundreds of forged emails to the victim and “concocted an elaborate lie”.

“You cheated the victim