On 15 August 2023, the Police conducted a large scale, island-wide raid in relation to its investigations into a group of foreign nationals suspected of laundering the proceeds of their overseas organised crime activities into Singapore. 10 foreign nationals were arrested during this raid, including Su Wenqiang, a 32-year-old Cambodian national. Su Wenqiang was charged with the following offences:
- Eight counts of money laundering offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA);
- One count of possession of forged document under the Penal Code 1871; and
- Two counts of false declaration under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
On 2 April 2024, Su Wenqiang was convicted and sentenced to 13 months imprisonment for two counts of money laundering under Section 54(1) of the CDSA. Any person who is convicted for an offence under Section 54(1) of the CDSA may be punished with a fine not exceeding $500,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.
Investigations revealed that Su Wenqiang was involved in an unlawful remote gambling business based in the Philippines, which offered its remote gambling services to persons overseas. During his arrest on 15 August 2023, the accused was found in possession of cash and assets which were benefits from his criminal conduct. The accused had also made purchases in Singapore, including the purchase of a Mercedes Benz AMG, using proceeds which were benefits from his criminal conduct.
In the course of investigations, he was also found to be in possession of a forged marriage certificate, and he had made a false declaration in respect of his own employment pass application as well as arranging for his spouse to obtain an employment pass when she did not have any intention to work in Singapore. The charges for these offences were taken into consideration during his sentencing.
The Police seized around S$6 million worth of assets, consisting of cash, two vehicles, jewelleries, luxury items and alcohol from Su Wenqiang. The State Court has ordered the forfeiture of these seized assets to the State.
Director CAD, Mr David Chew said, “The Police have seized all the illicit funds brought into Singapore by the accused. The Police will take swift and firm action against money laundering activities by criminal syndicates. We will zealously keep our financial system clean and work hard to trace, seize and confiscate all criminal property brought into Singapore. Law enforcement, the Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office and regulatory agencies will continue to work together to better detect complex money laundering, arrest the criminals, charge them and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains.”
Court proceedings on the other accused persons related to the case are ongoing.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
02 April 2024 @ 1:00 PM