Fifth man gets 15 months’ jail, surrendered $118m in assets to state
Zhang Ruijin, a 45-year-old Chinese national who also holds a passport issued by Saint Kitts and Nevis, is the fifth person to plead guilty in this case. PHOTO: COURT DOCUMENTS
This is the highest jail term meted out in this case so far.
The 45-year-old Chinese national, who also holds a passport issued by Saint Kitts and Nevis, is the fifth person to plead guilty in the case.
15 months' jail for fifth person, longest jail term so far
An illustration of Zhang Ruijin, a suspect in the billion-dollar money laundering case in Spore. Image:Jeremy Long/Lydia Lam
A 45-year-old man linked to Singapore’s largest money laundering case was sentenced to 15 months' jail on Tuesday (Apr 30).
Zhang Ruijin was also ordered to forfeit around S$118 million of his assets to the state. This amounts to about 90 per cent of the S$131 million worth of assets originally seized by the police.
He is the fifth of 10 accused persons to be dealt with in relation to the case. Zhang pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of forgery-related offences and one of failing to satisfactorily account for property reasonably suspected to be benefits from criminal conduct. Another five similar charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing.
Fourth man in $3b money-laundering case sentenced to 14 months' jail
On April 29, Su Baolin was sentenced to 14 months' jail after pleading guilty to three charges.
PHOTO: The Straits Times file
Su Baolin, one of the 10 foreigners in Singapore's largest money-laundering case, made millions from his role in illegal online gambling operations abroad, said prosecutors.
He got the money into Singapore by funnelling it through his accomplices and cryptocurrency platforms to make it hard for the authorities to detect his crimes. And when the police found a large sum of money in his bungalow, he lied that he had won the money by gambling in casinos.
On April 29, Su was sentenced to 14 months' jail after pleading guilty to three charges — two for money laundering and one for abetting false representations made to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras).
Third accused convicted, sentenced to 13 months’ jail
With one-third remission, Wang Baosen may be out by early May. ST ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA
Baosen pleaded guilty on April 16 to two charges. Six other charges were taken into consideration. He admitted to using over $1.4 million from a company, Hornet Bee International Trading, to pay for 10 per cent of the purchase price of an upscale condominium unit in Orchard Road. Baosen also admitted to possessing nearly $600,000 in an HSBC bank account in Singapore, with the monies suspected to be proceeds from illicit gambling offences.
Of the 10 foreigners involved in this money laundering case, three have been convicted and sentenced:
- On April 2, Cambodian national Su Wenqiang, 32, who had 11 charges in total, was sentenced to 13 months’ jail after pleading guilty to two counts of money laundering. He was the first in the group to plead guilty.
- On April 4, Cypriot national Su Haijin, 41, was sentenced to 14 months’ jail after pleading guilty to one count of resisting arrest and two money laundering charges.
- On April 16, Chinese national Wang Baosen, 32, was sentenced to 13 months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to two charges of money laundering.
- Cambodian national Su Baolin, 42, who faces 13 charges, is expected to plead guilty on April 29.
- Meanwhile, Vang Shuiming, 43, who is listed as a Turkish national in court documents, is set to plead guilty on May 14. He faces 22 charges in total.
First two men convicted in billion-dollar money laundering case to be deported
Su Wenqiang and Su Haijin are the first two to be convicted in Singapore's largest money laundering case. (Illustrations: TODAY/Nurjannah Suhaimi, CNA/Lydia Lam)
The first two men convicted in Singapore’s largest money laundering case will be deported after their jail terms, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (Apr 4).
The first man, Su Wenqiang, 32, was sentenced to 13 months' jail on Tuesday after admitting to 11 charges of money laundering, possessing proceeds from illegal remote gambling offences and lying to get work passes for himself and his wife.
The second man, Su Haijin was sentenced to 14 months' jail on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to three of 14 charges. These were for resisting lawful arrest and possessing around S$1.4 million (US$1.03 million) in criminal proceeds through a shell company. The remaining charges, including money laundering, were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Man who jumped from bungalow balcony during raid gets 14 months’ jail
Su Haijin is the second of 10 foreigners linked to Singapore’s largest money laundering case to be convicted. PHOTOS: WEC
On April 4, the 41-year-old, who faced a total of 14 charges, was sentenced to 14 months’ jail.
Su is the second of 10 foreigners linked to Singapore’s largest money laundering case to be convicted and sentenced. More than $3 billion in cash and assets have been seized so far in relation to the case.
Su Wenqiang, accused in $3b money laundering case, sentenced to 13 months’ jail
Su Wenqiang pleaded guilty to two money laundering charges. PHOTO: CHINA POLICE
Cambodian national Su Wenqiang was sentenced to 13 months in jail after he pleaded guilty on April 2 to money laundering.
The 32-year-old is the first of 10 foreign nationals to be convicted over a probe, led by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), that saw more than $3 billion in cash and assets seized.
The prosecution sought 12 to 15 months in jail for Su, noting his early plea of guilt and his willingness to forfeit his assets worth over $5.9 million to the state.
Singapore convicts first suspect in record money laundering case
A Porsche 911 Targa vehicle seized by police at a residence of Su Jiafeng, one of the suspects in the S$2.8 billion money-laundering case, in Singapore, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Allegations have erupted that wealthy Chinese have been pouring ill-gotten gains into the Asian financial hub, in what the government itself describes as potentially one of the world’s largest money-laundering cases
Singapore on Tuesday sentenced the first person to plead guilty in the Southeast Asia island-state’s biggest money laundering scandal to a 13-month imprisonment. Cambodian national Su Wenqiang had faced 11 charges relating to forgery and laundering criminal proceeds. Public prosecutors went ahead with two counts of money laundering after an agreement to consider the remaining nine charges for sentencing.
The Singapore police said it has seized around 6 million Singapore dollars ($4.44 million) worth of assets from Su. According to court documents emailed to CNBC, this includes more than 2 million Singapore dollars in a bank account with United Overseas Bank, a Mercedes Benz, Chinese Moutai liquor and jewelry from Tiffany’s and Dior. Su was charged for laundering income from his part in abetting the operation of an illegal offshore remote gambling service out of the Philippines, which catered to mainland Chinese clients, according to court documents.
Su, 32, was arrested in August last year along with nine others of Chinese origin, in a case that has stunned many and raised doubts over Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub. Two suspects are still on the run. The value of all assets seized to date now exceeds more than 3 billion Singapore dollars, according to court documents.
Singapore hands down first conviction in $2.2 billion money laundering case
A defendant in Singapore's biggest-ever money laundering case was sentenced to 13 months in prison on Tuesday, the first conviction for an investigation that grabbed headlines after billions in luxury properties, cars and gold bars were seized. Defendant Su Wenqiang, a Cambodian national, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment for two counts of money laundering, Singapore police said in a statement.
Su had pleaded guilty in a Singapore district court to 11 charges that also included taking proceeds from illegal remote gambling and lying to get work passes for himself and his wife, Channel NewsAsia reported. "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," the police statement said. Reuters was unable to reach Su's lawyer for comment.
Su, who holds passports from Cambodia, Vanuatu and China, is one of 10 foreigners, opens new tab who were arrested in Singapore in August last year in simultaneous raids. The court cases against the other defendants are ongoing. More than $2.2 billion of assets were seized or frozen in the probe. Around S$6 million ($4.4 million) from Su was seized, including cash, two vehicles, jewellery, luxury items and alcohol, the police said.
Singapore jails Fujian native in US$2.2 billion money laundering case’s first conviction
Su Wenqiang was sentenced to 13 months in jail on Tuesday, to be backdated to his arrest in August. Photo: bilibili
A Singapore court on Tuesday convicted the first defendant in its biggest-ever money laundering case, in one of the city state’s highest-profile crime probes over which more than S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) of assets has been seized or frozen. Su Wenqiang, 32, pleaded guilty during a court hearing on Tuesday. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail, to be backdated to his arrest in August.
Su faced 11 charges including for forgery and laundering criminal proceeds through activities like buying multiple bottles of prized liquor and paying S$48,000 (US$35,860) a month to rent a luxury condominium near the city state’s Orchard Road shopping belt. The prosecution proceeded with two charges. A strong message needed to be sent that money laundering is a serious offence and affects Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub, the prosecution told Su through an interpreter. Lawyers for Su had asked for a reduced sentence, arguing that the victims for the illegal acts were not in Singapore.
Su’s sentencing will mark the next chapter in a scandal that has ensnared the world’s largest banks and raised questions about the financial hub’s safeguards against illicit money flows. More developments are in store this week with at least one other suspect in remand also planning to plead guilty, according to a scheduled court hearing. Su was born in China’s Fujian province and holds multiple passports including those from Cambodia and Vanuatu. One of 10 foreigners holding multiple citizenships who were arrested in Singapore in August last year in simultaneous raids, he was accused of seeking to launder proceeds from an illegal remote gambling service in the Philippines targeting people in China.
Man who jumped from bungalow balcony during raid gets 14 months’ jail
Su Haijin is the second of 10 foreigners linked to Singapore’s largest money laundering case to be convicted. FOTOS: WECHAT, ST FILE
Cypriot national Su Haijin, who jumped from the second-floor balcony of a good class bungalow (GCB) during a police raid, has been convicted of resisting arrest and money laundering. On April 4, the 41-year-old, who faced a total of 14 charges, was sentenced to 14 months’ jail.
Su is the second of 10 foreigners linked to Singapore’s largest money laundering case to be convicted and sentenced. More than $3 billion in cash and assets have been seized so far in relation to the case. He admitted to one charge of resisting arrest and two money laundering charges. The latter involved Su possessing over $1.4 million, suspected to be criminal benefits, in Yihao Cyber Technologies’ DBS and UOB accounts.
Su is a director and sole shareholder of Yihao, which was incorporated in 2017. Another 11 charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing. The prosecution, which sought 12 to 15 months’ jail for Su, said he will forfeit more than $165 million, or around 90 per cent of his assets, to the state.
Third accused in billion-dollar laundering case set to plead guilty
A THIRD individual accused in the billion-dollar money laundering case is set to plead guilty, court records on Thursday (Mar 28) showed.
Wang Baosen, who is facing two money laundering charges in Singapore relating to money from illegal remote gambling, is slated to admit his guilt at a mention on Apr 16. The 32-year-old has been in remand since being charged last August. He was arrested at a condominium in Tomlinson Road in the Orchard area. According to one of the charges, he took possession of a black Toyota Alphard Hybrid Elegance in 2022, which allegedly represents his benefits from criminal conduct.
Assets worth more than S$18 million have been seized or subjected to prohibition of disposal orders, including more than S$3.3 million in four bank accounts and one property worth S$14.8 million. The Chinese national’s court session comes after similar proceedings have been scheduled for Su Wenqiang on Apr 2 and for Su Haijin on Apr 4 to plead guilty.
$3b money laundering accused gets 6 new charges for submitting forged statements to Swiss bank
A High Court judge in October 2023 refused bail for Vang, saying there was a risk of Vang absconding as he had obtained passports from Turkey, Vanuatu and Cambodia. PHOTOS: CEL GULAPA, SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
Vang Shuiming, one of the 10 accused in Singapore’s largest money laundering case, was handed six more charges on March 27.
Vang, 42, also known as Wang Shuiming, allegedly submitted forged financial statements from two companies – Xiamen Yetian Trading and Xiamen Likanghang Trading – to Bank Julius Baer & Co’s Singapore branch on July 19, 2022, as supporting documentation. Bank Julius Baer & Co is a Swiss private bank that offers financing, investment advisory, custodial and wealth management services. The financial statements mentioned in the new charges were from 2017 to 2019. Vang now faces 22 charges in total – the most among the 10 accused.
Vang, who is listed as a Turkish national in his charge sheets, was among 10 foreigners arrested on Aug 15, 2023, in islandwide raids on luxury homes across Singapore, including in Tanglin, Bukit Timah, Orchard Road, Sentosa and River Valley. The assets seized in the case are now worth more than $3 billion.
Who are the 10 charged after the billion-dollar anti-money laundering raid in Singapore?
The 10 accused are (clockwise from top left) Su Baolin, Su Haijin, Chen Qingyuan, Su Wenqiang, Lin Baoying, Zhang Ruijin, Wang Dehai, Su Jianfeng, Vang Shuiming and Wang Baosen. ST ILLUSTRATIONS: CEL GULAPA
- Su Baolin - The 41-year-old Su Baolin, who holds a Cambodian passport, is a shareholder of construction firm Sentosa Project. He was arrested on Tuesday when police raided a GCB in Nassim Road where he lived. He was charged on Wednesday with using a forged document to cheat Citibank.
- Su Haijin - Cypriot national Su, 41, was initially set to plead guilty this week on Thursday. Both prosecution and defence confirmed that his plea will go ahead as planned. He initially faced two charges of resisting arrest on Aug 15, 2023, and possessing about S$4.06 million in benefits from illegal remote gambling offences in a UOB account around August 2023.
- Chen Qingyuan - The Cambodian national, 33, was arrested at a condominium in Leonie Hill Road in the River Valley area. He was charged with money laundering. Chen, who was found in possession of foreign passports believed to be issued by China and Dominica, is a director of HiCloud Technology, a business that offers cloud solutions and services.
- Su Wenqiang - The 31-year-old Cambodian national was arrested at a GCB in Lewis Road in Bukit Timah. He was found with a foreign passport believed to be issued by China. The police seized items including cash of more than $600,000 and 11 pieces of jewellery.
- Lin Baoying - Lin, 43, the only female, has a passport issued by Dominica. Lin is a shareholder of Ban Tian Yao Catering Management and Eagle77, which also offers management consultancy services. Lin, 43, has a passport issued by Dominica. Lin also holds a passport from Turkey.
- Zhang Ruijin - A Chinese nationals, were arrested at a bungalow at Pearl Island in Sentosa Cove. Zhang also holds a passport believed to be from Saint Kitts and Nevis, an island country in the Caribbean. Zhang, 44, is a director of Golden Eagle Family Office, which offers management consultancy services.
- Wang Dehai - Wang Dehai, a 34-year-old man listed as a Cypriot in charge sheets, faces two charges in Singapore. The first is for using criminal proceeds from a remote gambling service based in the Philippines but aimed at China users by buying a unit in The Marq at 8 Paterson Hill in November 2019. The second is for possessing S$2.3 million in Singapore in August this year which represents what he earned from the illegal remote gambling offences. Wang, who has passports from four countries, has been remanded since Aug 16, for more than two months. He is one of 10 people accused in a S$2.8 billion money laundering probe.
- Su Jianfeng - Su Jianfeng, 35, a Vanuatu national, was handed a money-laundering charge after he was arrested in a GCB in Third Avenue in Bukit Timah. About $1.4 million in cash and 18 devices were seized from him. Su is a shareholder of a wholesale and distribution company called Ricco. The 35-year-old, who was slapped with a money-laundering charge, was arrested at a GCB in Third Avenue in Bukit Timah. The Vanuatu national has a foreign passport believed to be issued by China.
- Vang Shuiming - Vang, who is also known as Wang Shuiming, is the director and shareholder of Zhuo Chi Technology. An Acra search showed that he was also the shareholder of Ming Xin (Singapore) Technologly, which was struck off in 2021. Vang, a Turkish national who has passports from Vanuatu and China, was arrested on Tuesday at 7B Bishopsgate, which is in the Tanglin area.
- Wang Baosen - Chinese national Wang Baosen, 31, faces a money-laundering charge. Prohibition disposal orders were issued for a property, and a vehicle under his wife’s name and $100,000 in cash were seized.
Singapore 2.8 billion$ money laundering probe
The assets seized in Singapore’s largest money laundering case that saw 10 foreigners arrested are now worth more than $3 billion. Warrants of arrest and Interpol Red Notices have been issued against two more suspects, Su Yongcan and Wang Huoqiang.
The police said on Jan 19 that they have issued prohibition of disposal orders on another 55 properties and 15 vehicles. An additional 189 luxury bags, 34 pieces of jewellery and five luxury watches were also seized. This now brings the assets confiscated by the authorities to 207 properties, 77 vehicles, more than $1.45 billion in bank accounts, and more than $76 million in cash of various currencies. Thousands of bottles of liquor and wine, cryptocurrency worth more than $38 million, 68 gold bars, 483 luxury bags, 169 branded watches and 580 pieces of jewellery have also been seized in total.
Separately, warrants of arrest and Interpol Red Notices have been issued against two more suspects – Cambodian nationals Su Yongcan, 33, and Wang Huoqiang, 29 – for money laundering offences. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. The police said the pair had left Singapore before arrests related to the case began on Aug 15, 2023.
