Investment Scam Woman charged with theft

Suspected savings scam perpetrator Mei-Yen Ying appeared for a bail hearing Friday in connection with complaints that she conned over 100 Chinese garment workers of their hard-earned savings amounting to some $700,000.

Police Commissioner Charles W. Ingram Jr. deployed extra police presence within the Susupe courthouse to prevent enraged victims to the savings fraud from possibly laying a hand on the suspect.

But the scores of Chinese nationals who trooped to the courts to witness the local judicial system try to bring justice to their clamors surprisingly followed the legal proceeding with patience.

After citing formal theft charges against the defendant otherwise known as Mary Yen, Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama ruled that the bail be modified to $200,000 instead of the $100,000 cash bail recommended by complainant Detective Juan M. Santos.

Finding probable cause to try the defendant of the criminal offense, the presiding judge also ordered that Ms. Yen be remanded to police custody.

The accused was also denied the services of a court-appointed attorney after it was learned that she operated a business on island.

Ms. Yen’s preliminary hearing has been set for March 19 at 9am. An arraignment will follow on April 4, at 9am.

According to court records, the suspect last March 7, 2001 voluntarily surrendered to authorities, confessing to the crime through a note written on a small piece of yellow paper.

The arresting officer reported that the suspect had scribbled the words “Surrender Myself” and “Criminal.”

Investigations later revealed that Ms. Yen was admitting to having swindled from 80 to 100 Chinese customers large amounts of money by operating an illegal banking transaction through her self-proprieted business Mary Mini Mart Inc.

Last March 7, police Sgt. Johnny Tomei also witnessed what appeared to be a stampede of Asian females trying to get a hold of a woman wearing a black shirt and pants near Winchell’s in Beach Road Susupe.

The officer was flagged down by the subject being chased who later identified herself as Ms. Yen.

She had claimed that the women were chasing her for bounced checks she had issued to them.

In an interview administered by police with several victims to the savings sham, the workers disclosed most of them had been depositing their money at Mary Mini Mart as they were promised a 10 percent interest rate on their savings, a much higher rate than what banks offer.

A victim cited that if she deposits $1,000, she would get the same amount extra. And with every additional $1,000, savings depositors would get a free phone card.

One woman who fell prey to the scam claimed she had already deposited some $14,410 to the defendant’s so-called banking establishment.

In surrendering to authorities, the suspect also made an effort to resign her travel documents to police, with a vow that she will not leave the island.

She also relinquished hold of several documents pertaining to banking transactions with her customers.

According to police, Ms. Yen used up the savings money to fix her house, operate her store and play poker.

She reportedly has $200 left in her accounts.