2 Singaporean men deported from Thailand and Cambodia charged with scam-related offences

Two Singaporeans believed to be involved in transnational scams targeting Singaporeans were hauled to a district court on Nov 13 after being deported, one from Thailand and the other, Cambodia.

Ong Kwang Wee, 44, was handed one charge for abetment to commit unauthorised access to computer material.

Charge sheets stated that Ong allegedly allowed an unknown person known as “Ah Feng” to access his bank account in April.

The bank account was used by criminal syndicates to launder funds.

Ong is also believed to be part of a transnational scam syndicate operating a scam centre in Myanmar involved in government official impersonation scams targeting Singaporeans.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he was involved in administrative functions at the scam centre, and that he fled to Thailand when the centre was raided by Myanmar authorities, said Singapore police in a statement on Nov 13.

He was arrested by the Royal Thai Police during a raid in Bangkok and deported to Singapore on Nov 11.

Upon arrival in Singapore, Ong was arrested and is currently in police remand. His case will be mentioned again in court on Nov 20.

For abetment to commit unauthorised access to computer material, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined or both.

The second man, Seah Jianhao, 44, was charged with one count of abetment by conspiracy to cheat and one count of possessing property reasonably suspected to be benefits from criminal conduct.

Charge sheets stated that he opened a bank account with HSBC on Oct 11, 2021, which he falsely claimed was for personal use.

Seah is also alleged to be in possession of more than $47,616 in cash that is believed to be derived from criminal conduct, between October and December 2021. The amount was transferred to his UOB bank account.

He was arrested by the Cambodia National Police for his alleged involvement in a transnational scam syndicate which perpetrated telecommunication fraud from Krong Bavet, Cambodia.

Seah allegedly served as a translator for the syndicate.

He was also arrested by Singapore police upon arrival on Nov 11 after being deported.

Cheating carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine or both.

Those possessing property reasonably suspected to be benefits from criminal conduct can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $150,000 or both.

On Oct 29, the police issued warrants of arrest against 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians suspected of being involved in a scam ring operating in Cambodia.

They are alleged to be involved in 438 scam cases involving losses of at least $41 million.

The Straits Times reported that the group is believed to be led by two brothers, Ng Wei Liang, 32, and Ng Wei Kang, 33, as well as the former’s girlfriend, Christy Neo Wei En, 29.

Ng Wei Liang’s cousin, Lester Ng Jing Hai, 29, is reportedly also a high-ranking member in the syndicate’s operations.

Ng Wei Kang, Neo and Ng Jing Hai were charged in September under the Organised Crime Act and denied bail on Oct 2. Twelve others, including two Malaysians and a Filipina, were charged at the same time.

The group was said to be involved in government official impersonation scams, in which scammers would call the victims posing as bank employees, and then direct them to another scammer posing as either a police officer or a representative from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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