2-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) The first suspect to plead guilty in Singapore’s largest money laundering case faced conviction and was sentenced to 13 months’ jail in a district court on Tuesday (Apr 2).
Su Wenqiang, 32, confessed to 11 counts of money laundering, possessing proceeds from illegal remote gambling activities, and falsifying information to obtain work passes for himself and his spouse.
Over S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) in assets have been seized or frozen in connection with this case, making it one of the most significant money laundering operations globally.
Su was among 10 suspects arrested in coordinated police raids last August. The Cambodian national, listed as being from Fujian in his passport, was apprehended at a Good Class Bungalow in Bukit Timah’s Lewis Road.
Authorities confiscated over S$5.9 million from Su, including cash, vehicles, luxury goods, and alcohol. Su has forfeited this amount to the state.
During Monday’s court appearance via video link, Su pleaded guilty to possessing S$601,706, representing his proceeds from illegal remote gambling activities.
Details emerged in court regarding the illegal remote gambling enterprise central to this case, including Su’s involvement. Su resided in Manila in 2019, where he engaged in online gambling and became acquainted with an individual known only as “A.”
“A” was engaged in providing remote gambling services to individuals in China, operating from the Philippines through a website accessible via smartphones for placing bets, an activity illegal in China.
Su became involved in managing staff who maintained one of the operation’s illicit gambling websites, facilitating punters’ participation in unlawful remote gambling activities in China.
He also managed betting operations by remotely accepting bets, an unlicensed activity in Singapore, potentially constituting an offense had it occurred there.
Su was entitled to a portion of the criminal proceeds generated by the illegal remote gambling business, receiving monthly profits. He discovered that the operation’s overseer was an unidentified individual from Taiwan.
In 2021, Su relocated to Singapore at his wife’s behest for their children’s education, where he continued involvement in the gambling business, frequently travelling to the Philippines for work.
In June 2023, Su contacted another individual, “B,” also residing in Singapore, who managed finances for the illegal remote gambling business. Su requested his share of the proceeds, and “B” agreed to pay him S$1 million.
On Jun 23, 2023, Su received approximately S$1 million in cash from “B” at his residence, which constituted criminal proceeds from illegal remote gambling services.
During a police raid on Aug 15, 2023, S$601,706 was seized from a safe at Su’s residence, representing the remaining balance from the S$1 million received from “B.”
Additionally, Su admitted to using approximately S$500,000 in illegal proceeds to purchase a Mercedes Benz AMG C63S in January 2022.
The court considered Su’s remaining nine charges, including money laundering and providing false information for work passes.
Deputy Public Prosecutors sought a sentence of 12 to 15 months in jail, emphasizing the need for deterrence against money laundering and safeguarding Singapore’s reputation as a legitimate financial hub.
Su’s defence lawyers requested a maximum of 11 months’ jail, highlighting Su’s forfeiture of assets and arguing that his actions did not target Singapore’s society.
In sentencing, Senior District Judge Ong Hian Sun emphasized the importance of deterring money laundering.
Two other suspects, Su Haijin and Wang Baosen, indicated their intention to plead guilty. The police are also seeking two other suspects, Cambodian nationals Su Yongcan and Wang Huoqiang, who left Singapore before the raids.
The penalties for possessing or converting criminal proceeds are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
