19-year-old Nigel Tan stole a watch after repeated pressure, with an accomplice’s help, in a Carousell scam.
A 19-year-old who initially “chickened out” three times before stealing a $47,800 Rolex watch under his ex-stepfather’s instructions has been sentenced to reformative training, while the older man remains at large.
Crime Planned by Ex-Stepfather
On 14 August 2025, Nigel Tan was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of cheating. His former stepfather, 37-year-old Kyoshirocaeden Tan Lee Yu, is accused of masterminding the theft and remains on the run. Court documents state the older man promised Nigel a larger share of the proceeds from selling the stolen watch.
Kyoshirocaeden had married Nigel’s mother when he was three and, after divorcing in 2019, began living with Nigel again in 2022. Unemployed at the time, he allegedly told Nigel he “needed money badly” and pressed him to trick a Carousell seller into handing over an expensive watch.
Failed Attempts Before the Theft
Tan arranged meetings on 23 and 24 April 2024 with two sellers. Nigel and his friend Lucian Tan Keat Hong, 20, inspected the watches but returned them, unable to go through with the theft.
On 25 April, using Nigel’s Carousell account, Tan organised another meeting with a Rolex owner. The watch, worth $47,800, was shown to the youths, and a price of $46,000 was agreed. Again, they left without stealing it.
Theft Carried Out After Pressure
Half an hour later, after Tan promised them a bigger cut, Nigel and Lucian met the seller again. When Lucian tried the watch for photographs, the pair fled in separate directions. The owner gave chase but failed to catch them.
Lucian later passed the watch to Tan, who transferred $5,000 into Nigel’s girlfriend’s bank account. Nigel never withdrew his share, but Lucian took $1,750. Both were eventually arrested.
Court Proceedings and Sentence
A reformative training report found Nigel suitable for the sentence, while his lawyer, Vadi P.V.S.S. from the Public Defender’s Office, sought probation to avoid a criminal record. The probation officer opposed it, citing Nigel’s prior conditional warning.
Vadi argued Nigel acted under coercion, saying, “He’s no hardened criminal. He chickened out… he didn’t want to do it at first.”
District Judge Carol Ling opted for at least six months’ reformative training, telling Nigel: “Every action comes with consequences. It doesn’t define who you are… There will be fresh chapters of your life written after this.” The case underscores the vulnerability of youth to manipulation by trusted adults and highlights the growing trend of luxury goods scams on online marketplaces. For Singapore and beyond, it’s a cautionary tale of how persistent pressure can push someone into crossing a line they initially resisted.
The case underscores the vulnerability of youth to manipulation by trusted adults and highlights the growing trend of luxury goods scams on online marketplaces. For Singapore and beyond, it’s a cautionary tale of how persistent pressure can push someone into crossing a line they initially resisted.
Sources: AsiaOne (2025) , Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Rolex Scam, Carousell Crime, Reformative Training, Youth Crime, Luxury Watch Theft, Singapore Court
