A 20-year-old Filipino was jailed for two weeks on Wednesday after he was caught scamming people and reportedly molesting a 16-year-old girl.
Neil Christian Alejandro Casiano was arrested after he claimed to be collecting money for Childhope Asia which is based in the Philippines.
Casino is accused of printing out two donor cards, two donor lists, as well as a fake volunteer identification car bearing his name and photograph on November 8.
He originally arrived in Singapore for a ‘social visit’ on October 27, but decided to scam his way to a free stay by posing as a collection volunteer.
Casiano is accused of going to Orchard Road with his new scam and pushing people into donating for the cause.
On his second day of ‘collecting’ he found himself in deeper trouble when he stopped a 16-year-old girl outside Ngee Ann City.
When asked her to donate ten dollars to the cause, the young girl declined, Casiano then took her aside and began to preach to her about religion.
After the preaching, the girl donated two dollars – he asked her to write her name and sign the roster.
Then the girl took a ‘selfie’ photo together using her mobile phone.
The girl said that Casiano then hugged her from the side, attempting to bring them closer together against her will.
The girl managed to push him away but later told her mother about the incident.
The mother then reported the incident to the police who arrested Casino outside Ngee Ann City the same day.
The Filipino pleaded guilty to a charge of ‘cheating’ and one count to ‘outrage of modesty.’
Neil admitted at sentencing that he held the girls hands and kissed her on her right hand.
In all, the Filipino said he collected $70 by scamming victims. In court, he said he was remorseful and wanted to return home as soon as possible as his father had just died.
The cheating charge alone could have given Casiano a three-year jail sentence plus fines. He also could have faced up to two years in jail for his behaviour towards the young girl.