7-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) Two individuals implicated in Singapore’s largest money laundering scandal were repatriated to Cambodia on May 6. Su Wenqiang and Wang Baosen, both aged 32, were deemed ineligible for re-entry into Singapore, according to a spokesperson from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
The deportation of Su and Wang marks a pivotal juncture in a high-profile investigation launched in August 2023, resulting in the confiscation of over $3 billion in cash and assets. The ICA underscored in April that the destination for deportation would hinge upon the admissibility of the individuals based on their valid passports.
Su, a Cambodian citizen, received a 13-month jail term on April 2 after pleading guilty to two counts of money laundering. His illicit activities included the possession of more than $600,000 derived from unlawful remote gambling activities and the utilisation of $500,000 in criminal proceeds to acquire a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Additionally, nine other charges were considered during sentencing.
Wang, who acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2020 while possessing passports from China and Vanuatu, received a similar sentence on April 16. His charges centred on fabricating financial information provided to HSBC and the Ministry of Manpower, including misleading statements about the source of his funds and his employment status in Singapore.
Su’s apprehension took place in August 2023 at a luxury residence in Lewis Road, Bukit Timah, during widespread police raids targeting opulent homes across Singapore. Investigations revealed Su’s involvement in online gambling operations based in Manila, Philippines, in 2019, before relocating to Singapore in 2021.
Meanwhile, Wang’s illicit dealings involved submitting falsified loan agreements to HSBC and unaccounted-for expenditures exceeding $1.4 million for a luxury condominium acquisition in Orchard.
The legal repercussions extended to other individuals implicated in the case, including Su Haijin, Su Baolin, and Zhang Ruijin. Su Haijin, a Cypriot national, received a 14-month prison sentence on April 4 and forfeited assets valued at approximately $165 million to the state. Su Baolin, a Cambodian citizen, was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment on April 29 and forfeited around $65 million. Finally, Zhang Ruijin, a Chinese national, received a 15-month jail term on April 30 and relinquished assets totalling approximately $118 million.
