US, America: Michael Raj, a Singaporean taxi driver of Indian origin, has been sentenced to one year and five months in prison after pleading guilty to four theft charges. Among his crimes was stealing SGD 43,400 worth of jewelry from his 70-year-old mother.

Facing financial difficulties, Raj stole three Rolex watches, totaling over SGD 200,000, from three different sleeping passengers on separate occasions, and subsequently sold the watches, as reported by The Straits Times.

Raj’s thefts began with the jewelry belonging to his mother between May and June 2021. The valuables were locked in a drawer within a cupboard, with the key kept in another drawer in the same cupboard. Raj pawned the jewelry at various shops without his mother's permission, using the proceeds to settle his debts.

On July 5, 2021, his mother noticed that several pieces of her jewelry were missing and confronted him two days later before reporting the theft to the police. Raj has since repaid her around SGD 3,000.

On September 2, 2022, while driving his taxi, Raj picked up a heavily intoxicated 33-year-old man near Orchard Towers at about 5 a.m. After the passenger fell asleep, Raj stole a Rolex watch valued at SGD 45,000. The following month, Raj stole a second Rolex watch worth nearly SGD 67,300 from a 44-year-old male passenger who had also dozed off in his cab. Both passengers reported their missing watches to the police, but neither watch was recovered, and Raj made no restitution to them.

On June 15, 2023, Raj stole a Rolex watch worth SGD 88,000 from a 30-year-old man who had dozed off in his taxi. This watch was eventually recovered and returned to its owner after a police report was filed.

On July 30, Raj's defense lawyer, Wee Hong Shern, requested a sentencing of one year and three months.