An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 23 months’ jail for cheating a woman he met on Singapore’s online marketplace of over SGD268,000.
Thevendran Elan Goven, 31, was handed the sentence on Thursday after he earlier pleaded guilty to one count of cheating; two other similar charges were taken into consideration. Deputy Public Prosecutor Suriya Prakash told the court that Thevendran did not stop cheating the victim even after all her money was gone.
The court heard the victim was 25 at the time of the offences. On or before July 24, 2021, Thevendran posted a listing on Carousell for a PlayStation 4 (PS4). He told her the console would be delivered within seven days if she paid a SGD150 deposit and that she would pay a SGD150 balance after delivery. The woman transferred SGD150 on July 24, 2021. They continued messaging on Carousell and later on WhatsApp.
Three days later he asked her to pay the remaining SGD150 and an additional SGD49 for some PS4 games. The victim transferred SGD199 but did not receive the items. Thevendran began calling her and the victim believed they had fostered a friendship.
Between August and December 2021, he cheated her of more than SGD246,000 in total over 48 occasions. He lied that he needed to borrow money for various reasons — to fund a “court case”, pay a dental bill, settle a supplier, or because his dog was sick — but in reality he used the funds for personal expenses and to settle gambling debts. By August 2021 he learned the victim had received money from insurance and Central Provident Fund payouts following her mother’s death and continued deceiving her even after she said she had given him all her money.
The offences came to light when the victim’s father alerted police about missing funds from his bank account. The DPP said Thevendran made restitution of SGD24,000 in July 2024 and SGD80,000 in June 2025.
Before sentencing, District Judge Janet Wang noted the psychological harm and financial loss suffered by the victim.
