KUALA LUMPUR – Cambodian national Su Wenqiang is sentenced to 13 months in jail after being the first of the 10 foreigners convicted in Singapore over the republic’s largest money laundering case, with a total value exceeding SG$3 billion (RM10.55 billion).
Su, 32, pleaded guilty today and was willing to forfeit his assets worth over SG$5.9 million to the Singapore government, reported the Straits Times.
While the prosecution applied for 12 to 15 months’ jail, the defence argued for 11 months.
He admitted to two counts of money laundering charges for possession of more than SG$600,000 cash he received from unlawful remote gambling offences and the use of SG$500,000 in illegal proceeds to buy a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
Su holds passports from Cambodia, Vanuatu and China.
The anti-money laundering operation started in 2021 when the authorities suspected the use of forged documents for funds in bank accounts here.
He was arrested in a rented bungalow during an islandwide raid by police on August 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, Cypriot national Su Haijin, 41, who faces 14 charges, will record his plea on Thursday, and Chinese national Wang Baosen, 32, with two money laundering charges, is expected to plead guilty on April 16.
Others arrested were Chen Qingyuan, 33; Lin Baoying, 44; Su Baolin, 42; Su Jianfeng, 35; Vang Shuiming, 43; Wang Dehai, 34; and Zhang Ruijin, 45.
In January, Singapore authorities seized a total of 207 properties, 77 vehicles, more than SG$1.45 billion in bank accounts, and more than SG$76 million in various currencies.
Authorities also seized thousands of bottles of liquor and wine, cryptocurrency worth more than SG$38 million, 68 gold bars, 483 luxury bags, 169 branded watches and 580 pieces of jewellery.
Arrest warrants and Interpol Red Notices were issued against Cambodian nationals Su Yongcan, 33, and Wang Huoqiang, 29. The duo fled Singapore before arrests started on August 15 last year. – April 2, 2024