Singapore police have announced the first conviction in relation to a high-profile SG$2.8 billion (US$2.1 billion) illegal gambling and money laundering case, with Cambodian national Su Wenqiang sentenced to 13 months in prison for offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA).
Su, 32, was charged with eight counts of laundering the proceeds of overseas organised crime activities into Singapore, plus one count of possession of a forged document and two counts of false declaration under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
He was one of 10 foreign nationals arrested during a series of raids in August 2023.
According to the Singapore Police Force, investigations revealed that Su was involved in an unlawful remote gambling business based in the Philippines, which offered its remote gambling services to people based overseas.
During his arrest on 15 August 2023, Su was found in possession of cash and assets which were benefits from his criminal conduct, while he had also made significant purchases in Singapore with criminal proceeds, including a Mercedes Benz AMG.
Police added that he possessed a forged marriage certificate, made a false declaration in respect of his own employment pass application and arranged 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, authorities said.
Police ultimately seized around SG$6 million worth of assets from Su, comprising cash, two vehicles, jewelleries, luxury items and alcohol.
“The Police have seized all the illicit funds brought into Singapore by the accused,” said David Chew, director of the Commercial Affairs Department.
“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.”
Proceedings against other accused people in the case are ongoing, police said.
The case in question gained significant media attention last year after Singapore authorities announced they had arrested 10 people for alleged involvement in forgery, money laundering and resistance to lawful apprehension. The group, comprising members from China, Cambodia, Cyprus, Turkey and Vanuatu, was found to have links with illegal online gaming sites catering primarily to customers in mainland China.
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