On 23 June 2022, Lim Kok Tiong Danny, a 54-year-old man, was charged in court for two counts of possessing monies totalling $28,500, suspected to be the benefits of criminal conduct, in two of his bank accounts. The two bank accounts were purportedly used by criminals to launder proceeds of crime derived from Parcel Scams. He was also charged for allegedly forging an invoice for the purpose of cheating. The invoice is alleged to have been submitted to remittance agents when he arranged to remit money overseas.
On 12 August 2021, the Police received a report from a victim of a Parcel Scam who was defrauded into transferring $10,000 to a bank account as requested by her ‘online friend’.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had befriended an unknown person over a social media platform. Within a month of meeting this person online, she was promised that she would receive a parcel containing money and jewellery from her friend. Subsequently, she received messages from a purported delivery company that her parcel had arrived at customs, but she was required to pay $10,000 in order not to subject her parcel to investigations for money laundering. The victim did as instructed and transferred $10,000 to a bank account specified by the delivery company. She only discovered that she had been cheated when police officers contacted her. Further investigations revealed that the bank account belonged to the 54-year-old man and it was operated by him.
Separately, police investigations further discovered $18,500 transferred by another Parcel Scam victim to the man’s other bank account.
The offence of possessing property reasonably suspected to be benefits of criminal conduct under Section 55 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act carries an imprisonment term not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $150,000, or both.
The offence of forgery for the purpose of cheating under Section 468 of the Penal Code is liable to punishment with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years, and a fine.
The Police take a serious view of the offences and will not hesitate to take action against any individuals involved in arrangements allowing their companies to be used for illegal purposes such as the laundering of criminal proceeds. To avoid being involved in money laundering activities, members of the public should always reject requests to share the use of their banking facilities to receive and transfer funds.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 June 2022 @ 11:10 AM