A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty on 3 Sep 2025 to charges under the Computer Misuse Act. He stole $91,149 from his father’s Central Provident Fund account and insurance policies.
The teenager cannot be named due to the Children and Young Persons Act. He committed the offences at age 16.
His father had trusted him with online banking tasks since 2023. The dad regularly asked his son to make premium payments on insurance policies. He also had him check CPF account balances and handle other banking matters.
Access Granted, Trust Broken
The teen gained access to his father’s login credentials through these legitimate tasks. He knew exactly how much money sat in his father’s CPF account. He also learned the details of the insurance policies.
The son’s responsibilities grew over time. He applied for online banking services. He made monthly premium payments for three insurance policies. He monitored CPF accounts through mobile app payments.
The Theft Unfolds
In August 2024, the teen made two unauthorised withdrawals. He took $25,370 from his father’s CPF ordinary and special accounts.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Foo Yang Yi told the court what happened next. The teen had logged into the CPF account using his father’s mobile phone to check if money had been deposited.
A notification caught his eye. It explained how to transfer money out of the CPF account. This sparked his plan.
The teenager then accessed his father’s Income Insurance account using his own phone. He applied for at least three loans exceeding $68,000 against his father’s insurance policies. He did this without permission.
Money Moves Fast
Both the CPF withdrawals and insurance loan money landed in the father’s bank account. The teen then transferred the entire $91,149 to his own account via PayNow.
The scheme crumbled when the father’s niece helped review his insurance policies. The father discovered money had vanished from his account. It had gone straight to his son’s account.
He filed a police report in February 2025. Police arrested the teen the same day.
Fishing Trips and Korean Holiday
During investigations, the teen admitted to the offences. He revealed where the money went. Fishing trips ate up part of the cash. An overseas holiday to South Korea in August 2024 consumed the rest.
On 29 Aug 2025, the teen faced three charges under the Computer Misuse Act 1993. He pleaded guilty to accessing computer material with intent to commit or facilitate an offence. The court took the other two charges into consideration.
Prosecutor Calls It Serious Abuse
The prosecutor highlighted that the offences involved serious abuse of trust. The teen had “exploited this knowledge” of his father’s online banking details after gaining the information through legitimate assistance.
Defence lawyer Mr Paul of Cross Street Chambers called his client’s actions foolish. “He was stupid, as he confesses, and went on this childish exuberance and went travelling,” Mr Paul said.
The lawyer, who goes by one name, added that his client had “behaved himself” since the incidents. He said the teen had “wised up and matured.”
Sentencing Postponed
The prosecutor proposed reformative training as the preferred option. This would provide the young offender with rehabilitation and deterrence.
The judge called for both a probation suitability report and a reformative training suitability report.
No money has been returned yet. However, the father and son have reached an agreement. The teenager will return the stolen money once he starts working.
The sentencing has been adjourned to October 2025.
