29-1-2024 (SINGAPORE) Su Wenqiang, a key figure in Singapore’s billion-dollar money laundering investigation, now faces a total of nine charges. The latest charges allege that he laundered approximately S$477,000 (US$355,770) in illicit funds by using them to pay for high-end rentals and luxury purchases. Additionally, Su is accused of possessing a forged marriage certificate from China, which he intended to use in a dependent pass application to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower.
Su, who is listed as Cambodian in official records but holds a Chinese passport from Fujian, China, is implicated in a wide-reaching money laundering operation. The six new charges of money laundering accuse him of using profits from his illegal remote gambling service, based in the Philippines, to purchase various luxury items. These include seven luxury bags and pieces of jewelry worth S$26,065.30, as well as 17 unspecified luxury goods valued at S$72,152.
In addition to luxury purchases, Su also allegedly used the illicit funds to buy 30 bottles of Kweichow Moutai and 12 bottles of “18 years Macallan Scotch Whiskey” for S$18,600. He further utilized the funds to cover the monthly rent and security deposit for a landed house on Lewis Road, amounting to S$276,000 for the period between November 2022 and August 2023. Su is also accused of paying monthly rent for a condominium apartment at Orchard By-The-Park, with expenses totaling S$35,877 between October and December 2021, and S$48,000 for a separate period between January and April 2022.
These new charges are in addition to Su’s existing charges of possessing S$601,706 that came from illegal remote gambling activities and using S$500,000 in illegal proceeds to purchase a Mercedes Benz AMG C63S in January 2022.
Su’s arrest took place on August 15 during a police operation targeting money laundering offenses. An investigating officer revealed that Su was wanted in China and had been working as an executive in a remote lottery business operating in the Philippines and Cambodia. Su holds passports from China, Cambodia, and Vanuatu. His lawyers have previously stated that he relocated his two young children to Singapore with the intention of establishing permanent residency and providing them with an education here.
Since his arrest in August 2023, Su has remained in custody, with previous bail requests being denied. He is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial conference in February.
The case against Su Wenqiang is part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to combat money laundering and illegal financial activities. The authorities continue to investigate and take action against individuals involved in such crimes to maintain the integrity of the country’s financial system.
