SINGAPORE - A chauffeur who masterminded a staged accident involving four vehicles was jailed for more than three years on Wednesday.

Mohammed Eunos Zakaria was convicted of six charges of insurance fraud over the incident on Sembawang Drive in July 2009.

In a two-day trial, the 39-year-old had been accused of conspiring with others to cheat three companies - Rentokil Initial Singapore, NTUC Income and Tokio Marine Insurance. They claimed a total of just over $57,000.

Eight other accomplices pleaded guilty last year and were each jailed between six weeks and six months.

Seeking a total sentence of at least 38 months, the prosecution said Eunos, a former bus driver, played a pivotal role in the stage accident.

Eunos procured two cars and a van, and was also involved in the direction and execution of the 'accident'. He later got the documentation needed to make the false claims.

The court also heard that Eunos had interfered with police investigations by trying to tamper with witnesses.

Jailing him for 38 months, District Judge Liew Thiam Leng said the accident had been well planned and difficult to detect.

Eunos could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each charge.