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Singapore couple held on credit card fraud charges
A Singaporean couple facing dozens of credit card fraud charges plans to appeal a judge?s refusal to grant them bail after more than a month in custody.
Defence counsel Christopher Persson said an appeal would be made to the High Court after today?s decision by Christchurch District Court Judge John Bisphan to hold the pair in custody for a pre-depositions conference on November 6.
The pair were arrested and made their first court appearance on September 11 and were held in custody when the police opposed bail. The police opposition has not changed.
Suliaman Bin Haron, 50, and his wife, Saerah Binte Men, 49, each face 31 joint charges.
No occupation is given for Haron, and Men?s occupation is given as housewife. Their address is listed on the charge sheets as 022404 Angmokio Avenue, Singapore.
It emerged at today?s bail hearing that the police were not certain they knew their true identities.
They are jointly charged with dishonestly obtaining credit cards in a variety of names and then using, or attempting to use them, to obtain items of property.
The offences refer to dates from late August to the day of their arrest in September. The police allege the offences were committed at Auckland and Queenstown.
Mr Persson told the court the pair were in New Zealand on visitors? visas.
Judge Bisphan said he accepted the police assertion that there was ?a real and significant risk of flight?.
?The police say they don?t really know who these people are, that documents show them under different names, and that there are significant inquiries to be made. I?m not prepared to grant bail,? he said.
