Former China tour guide Yang Yin convicted of 120 charges

Yang Yin, a former China tour guide at the centre of a dispute over the assets of a wealthy widow was yesterday convicted of 120 charges. PHOTO: ST FILE

The former China tour guide at the centre of a dispute over the assets of a wealthy widow was yesterday convicted of 120 charges, mainly for falsifying receipts to his company and immigration offences.

Yang Yin, 42, pleaded guilty after an interpreter read out the charges to him in Mandarin. With his head slightly bowed, he looked expressionless as all 120 charges were read out in court.

A total of 110 charges were for the falsification of receipts made to his company, Young Music and Dance Studio. The firm was formed so he could move here. The rest were for immigration and cheating offences, as well as for breaking Companies Act laws.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Tan asked the court yesterday for the rest of the 227 charges to be taken into consideration for sentencing.

Yang, who has been in remand since October 2014, will appear in court again at the end of this month for two criminal breach of trust charges brought against him.

The prosecution has alleged that he misappropriated $1.1 million from wealthy widow Chung Khin Chun, 89. The widow, who has no children, was diagnosed with dementia in 2014.

The mitigation and submissions for sentencing over the 120 charges have been adjourned to July 11, after Yang's lawyer made the request so that this would not prejudice the later hearing.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 01, 2016, with the headline Former China tour guide Yang Yin convicted of 120 charges. Subscribe