SINGAPORE: Five Chinese nationals accused of being part of a global cybercrime syndicate operating from Singapore were handed fresh charges on 20 May 2025.
They were among seven men originally charged in September 2024 for suspected involvement in malicious cyber activities.
The five accused – Yan Peijian, Huang Qin Zheng, Liu Yuqi, Chen Yiren and Sun Jiao – are part of a group alleged to have conducted international cyber operations from Singapore.
Two other individuals, Singaporean Goh Shi Yong and Chinese national Zhang Qingqiao, also face charges. Their cases are still pending.
The suspects were arrested during coordinated raids at several residential locations across Singapore in September 2024.
The operation involved approximately 160 officers from the Singapore Police Force and the Internal Security Department.
Authorities seized multiple laptops containing malware-related software and hacking tools, as well as mobile phones and cash.
Sun Jiao, aged 43, received the most new charges – 15 counts under the Computer Misuse Act and one under the Penal Code.
He is accused of supplying the personal information of 6,800 individuals from Vietnam to two other people on 7 September 2024.
Several charges state that Sun retained malware to gain unauthorised access to computer systems between April 2023 and September 2024.
Other charges allege he conspired with others to modify computer content without permission, including injecting malicious scripts into websites.
This enabled remote access and control over the targeted websites.
Co-accused Yan, aged 39, Huang, 36, and Liu, 33, face charges for providing false employment information.
Yan allegedly told an employment inspector on 19 September 2024 that he was working as a sales representative for a manufacturing company.
On the same day, Huang claimed he was employed by two firms as a process maintenance and construction worker.
Liu is said to have falsely declared, in a work pass renewal application dated 1 April 2024, that he would be employed in a similar role.
Between 7 September 2022 and 9 September 2024, the three were allegedly members of a local organised criminal group aimed at financial gain.
Chen Yiren, also 43, faces several new charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
He allegedly employed four female foreign workers without valid passes as cleaners at a residence.
He also facilitated accommodation for Yan, Huang and Liu, and is accused of giving false information during a work pass renewal application on 19 April 2024.
Additionally, Chen was charged in relation to possessing alcohol likely obtained through criminal means.
He held the access card to a storage facility containing the alcohol and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.
All five accused are scheduled to return to court for pre-trial conferences on 21 May 2025.
The post Five Chinese nationals face fresh charges in Singapore cybercrime and false employment case appeared first on The Online Citizen.
