A Chinese national linked to a global cybercrime syndicate has pleaded guilty in Singapore to assisting in the illegal acquisition of personal data.
On 26 September 2025, 39-year-old Zhang Qingqiao admitted to one charge under the Computer Misuse Act.
He was arrested in Singapore on 9 September 2024 following an islandwide operation.
The case involved the theft of personal data from South Korean gambling websites, which was later used to promote illegal online betting.
Prosecutors said Zhang played a key role in enabling the transactions, even though he did not personally profit.
Origins of the scheme
According to court documents, Zhang created a WhatsApp group called “Korea” on 28 July 2023.
He added Chinese national Sun Jiao, 42, and Singaporean Lee Kok Leong, 38. Another man, 36-year-old Clovis Leslie Lim, later joined the group.
Zhang believed Sun could sell personal data while Lim could exploit the information for promoting South Korean gambling websites.
Within a week, Zhang provided two gambling websites from which Sun extracted personal details.
On 12 August 2023, Sun supplied Lim with the details of 1,000 individuals. Lim allegedly used this to run an illegal betting operation.
Zhang also faced a separate charge of offering to buy personal data of Indian nationals from online gaming websites.
This was not directly connected to the South Korean case but further indicated his involvement in cybercrime-linked activity.
Arrests and seizures
Zhang was arrested at his residence on Cairnhill Road after a major operation involving over 160 officers.
The authorities seized S$465,000 in cash, four thumb-drives, an Apple Watch, and a cryptocurrency wallet.
The same operation saw five other arrests, including Sun and Singaporean Goh Shi Yong, 34.
Among the items seized from Sun were five laptops, six mobile phones, S$24,000 in cash, and S$1.1 million in cryptocurrency.
Authorities believe the men were part of a wider global cybercrime group targeting vulnerable websites.
Related prosecutions
On 10 September 2024, four other Chinese nationals — Sun Jiao, 32-year-old Liu Yuqi, 35-year-old Huang Qin Zheng, and 38-year-old Yan Peijian — were charged in court.
The group allegedly exploited website vulnerabilities, while Singaporean Goh was said to have helped them in their activities.
Sun faced two charges under the Computer Misuse Act, while the others each faced one charge.
Prosecutors have sought a jail term of nine to 12 weeks for Zhang, citing the scale of the information involved and the premeditated nature of his actions.
His defence argued for a fine of S$10,000, maintaining that Zhang only served as a connector, received no direct benefit, and never accessed the stolen data.
Zhang’s sentencing has been adjourned.
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