SINGAPORE (Sept 23): A 27-year-old Malaysian man accused of masterminding money laundering operations in Singapore was charged in court on Wednesday.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said Chin Hock Khan, also known as “Da Xiang”, allegedly coordinated a scam involving people impersonating government officials and recruited Malaysians to carry out scam and money laundering activities.

Chin was charged under Section 51 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000 (RM1.6 million), or both.

He was arrested by the Royal Malaysian Police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department in Malaysia on Tuesday and handed over to the SPF the same day.

The SPF said preliminary investigations found that Chin had met at least four Malaysian runners several times in Malaysia to assign tasks, coordinate ATM withdrawals and pay them for their work.

“Under his instructions, the runners brought gold items collected from scam victims during their assignments back to Johor Bahru and handed them over to him in person.

“Chin is believed to be responsible for laundering at least S$500,000 in scam and illicit proceeds,” the police said in a statement on Tuesday.

The SPF said it had seen a growing number of Malaysians travelling to Singapore to help scam syndicates collect cash and valuables from victims.

“The police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” it added.

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