Two Malaysians have been accused of helping a foreign scam syndicate collect more than S$20,000 and a Rolex watch from victims in Singapore.
Both men were charged in court on 18 August and remain in remand for ongoing investigations.
Lee Kok Keong, 45, and Sim Man Kiat, 39, each face one charge of assisting another person to retain benefits from criminal conduct.
Initial police investigations suggest the pair were part of a Malaysia-based scam network targeting Singapore victims.
Lee is accused of collecting a Rolex watch worth S$16,500 from a victim on 14 August.
He was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint two days later when he re-entered Singapore.
The prosecution said he entered Singapore solely to act on behalf of the syndicate and is considered a high-flight risk. His case will be mentioned again on 15 September.
Sim is accused of collecting more than S$20,000 in cash between June and August as part of his involvement with the syndicate.
He was arrested near People’s Park Complex on 16 August and will return to court on 25 August.
According to police, the arrests followed a series of reports filed between July and August.
Victims alleged they had been deceived by scammers impersonating officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore Police Force.
Victims were told they were implicated in financial crimes such as money laundering and unauthorised bank transfers.
Scammers then pressured them to surrender their money and valuables for supposed investigations.
70yo Singaporean retiree loses S$16,500 to scammer posing as MAS officer
One case reported by Shin Min Daily News involved a 70-year-old woman who lost S$16,500 after being tricked by individuals posing as MAS officers.
The victim was convinced her banknotes needed verification for criminal links.
She was instructed to withdraw large sums and hand them to a stranger using a code word, “900.”
The man collected cash near her residential block on two occasions before disappearing.
Only later did she realise she had been scammed.
The police warned the public on 17 August not to transfer money, valuables, or personal items to strangers or individuals whose identities are unverified.
Members of the public were also advised not to leave money or valuables at pre-arranged collection points for third-party pick-ups.
Lee and Sim each face a potential sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both, if convicted of assisting another person to retain benefits from criminal conduct.
In a related but separate case, a Singaporean woman has also been charged in connection with fraudulent activities linked to scams.
On 18 August, 31-year-old Sherilyn Kung Mun Yee was charged under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act for allegedly supplying SIM cards obtained under false pretences.
Investigations revealed that Kung had registered a shell company between June and July, using it to apply for more than 600 postpaid SIM cards.
Police stated that in August she allegedly received 88 SIM cards and handed them to an unknown individual for between S$40 and S$48 per card.
Authorities believe fraudulently registered SIM cards are frequently used by scam syndicates to communicate with victims, conceal identities, and evade detection.
The police have reiterated that scams remain a significant concern, with syndicates often exploiting technology and false identities to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
Investigations into the cases of Lee, Sim, and Kung are ongoing.
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