Prison for ancient sellers who sold the customer's vase from the 18th century worth $ 300,000 and was replaced by a fake

Singapore – A ancient seller sold a customer's vase from the 18th century worth more than $ 300,000 without its permission, used the proceeds to pay his debts and replaced the vase with a fake.

Regardless of this, the seller had also damaged a Chinese calligraphy painting of the same customer while trying to clean it and replaced it with a printed copy.

Kuok Chio, 42, was too condemned to 29 months in prison on March 3, After he had guilty for three charges – one to acquire the advantages of his criminal behavior, criminal trust and fraud.

Deputy prosecutor Jordon Li Said Kuok operated the Chinese art center, which was in business with commercial antique sales.

In October 2023 Kuok visited the place where the customerDr. Chan Chi Chin held his collection There was a group of buyers who were interested in buying some of the antiques. The two men were known when Dr. Chan had bought antiques from Kuok.

After Dr. Chan's wife told him that she felt uncomfortable when she had Kuok done the sale, said Dr. Chan zu Kuok, he no longer tries to sell his collection.

A few days later, Kuok Dr. Chan that he traveled to Hong Kong and asked To take Two of the antiques according to Hong Kong for Evaluation.

Dr. Chan allowed Kuok To Take in a vase dating back During the reign of the Qing dynasty Kaiser Qianlong in the 18th century. But he said The vase should not be sold without his consent.

Kuok agreed And gave Dr. Chan a check after the checked check over a sum of $ 50,000 as collateral. According to court documents, the vase was at least evaluated HK $ 1.8 million (S $315.280).

Kuok, which was brought into harmony with 60,000 to 70,000 US dollars because his business was affected by the pandemic, sold Dr. Chann vase to an antique dealer for 150,000 US dollars.

In November 2023 Kuok Dr. Chan a replica of the vase he had sold. It was not stated how Kuok's file submitted a police report in the same month.

About half a year later, Dr. Chan a Chinese calligraphy painting that Kuok had allegedly cleaned and had returned to him, which had been replaced by pressure from the painting.

In June 2021 when he in Dr. Chan's house was, Kuok came across a Chinese calligraphy painting that Dr. Chan had bought for $ 18,000.

Kuok advised Dr. Chan to clean the painting professionally after pointing out some stains. Dr. Chan agreed and paid Kuok 2,700 US dollars.

In January 2022 Kuok told Dr. Chan opposite that he had restored the painting and claimed to return it in a PVC tube. He said Dr. Chan, it should not open the pipe because it contained nitrogen gas that would help to maintain the painting.

In June 2024, Dr. Chan The painting, which was still held in the PVC pipe, into an art dealer office when he wanted to reorganize the painting. The art dealers' employees opened the pipe, inspected the painting and shared Dr. Chan with that it was a fake.

It turned out that Kuok didn't know how to clean the painting And used to learn from an online video tutorial. But he accidentally damaged the painting by incorrectly preparing the chemical mixture for cleaning.

He then printed a copy of the painting in a print shop with a photo that he took before the start of the cleaning process, and there was Dr. Chan.

Those who commit criminal violation of trust can be detained Seven years, fine or both.

If a perpetrator is convicted of fraud, he can be detained for up to three years, with a fine or both.

People who were found guilty of acquiring the advantages of criminal behavior can be detained up to 10 years with a fine of up to 500,000 US dollars or both.

• Nadine Chua is a crime and a court journalist at The Straits Times.

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