10 September 2013

Property agent Tang Yong Yeow Daniar was jailed for six weeks after pleading guilty to forging a stamp certificate. He also admitted to his involvement in several rental scams.

In July 2012, Tang collected $3,520 from a prospective tenant, including $120 as stamp duty, for the rental of a property at Rochor Road. When pressed for the stamp certificate, Tang amended the details on a genuine certificate from a previous transaction, and gave this to the tenant.

When the property was not handed over as scheduled, the tenant lodged reports with the Police and Council for Estate Agencies.

Stamp duty is paid on documents relating to properties such as tenancy agreements, options to purchase, etc. The stamp certificate confirms that stamp duty has been paid. It is a crime to use counterfeit stamp certificates. Perpetrators may face penalties of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

Prospective tenants and property buyers may check the authenticity of stamp certificates at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore e-Stamping website https://estamping.iras.gov.sg.

Source: Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore