Two fresh charges have been brought against Jover Chew, the former owner of Sim Lim Square electronics shop Mobile Air, bringing the total number of charges he faces to 28.
These charges were read during a pre-trial conference today (July 30). Chew, 33, allegedly exhibited insulting behaviour and caused distress to a customer, Ms Zou Jing Tong, in October last year.
Ms Zou had to pick up small change amounting to S$547 after Chew had scattered it on the floor of his shop. The amount owed to Ms Zou was part of a Small Claims Tribunal order. For this, he could be fined up to S$5,000.
The second charge sees Chew accused of abetment by conspiracy to cheat walk-in customers between December 2013 and Sept 24 last year with Kam Kok Keong, an ex-employee.
On Sept 24 last year, Kam allegedly tricked Ms Zou into believing that she could buy an iPhone 6 Plus for S$1,600 — a fact that Kam knew to be false. For this, Kam, 31, faces the same charge as Chew, bringing the total number of charges brought against Kam to nine.
If convicted of abetment by conspiracy to cheat, Chew and Kam could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
Mobile Air became notorious after a video of a tourist, Pham Van Thoai, going on his knees to beg for a refund at the shop went viral. The Vietnamese had paid S$950 for an iPhone 6, but was told he had to add S$1,500 in warranty fees.
Three other employees — Koh Guan Seng, 38, Lim Hong Ching, 33, and Lim Zhi Wei Kelvin, 32 — have also been charged. They face one to 15 charges each of abetment by conspiracy to commit cheating.
All five men are out on bail. A pre-trial conference for them will be held on Aug 27.
Source: www.todayonline.com
