Ten people from countries such as China, Turkey and Cambodia were on Wednesday charged with offences, including forgery, money laundering and resisting arrest.
The foreigners, aged between 31 and 44, were arrested on Tuesday morning following an islandwide operation by more than 400 officers. The accused are believed to be connected to one another.
At 5pm on Wednesday, an application was made by Deputy Public Prosecutor David Koh for the 10 to be charged that evening in a rare night court proceeding involving such offences.
The first to appear before District Judge Terence Tay was Cypriot Su Haijin, 40, who was charged with one count of resisting arrest. He allegedly committed the offence at a house in Ewart Park near Holland Road.
After Su’s arrest, the police said they seized more than $2.1 million in cash, and issued prohibition of disposal orders for 13 properties and five vehicles with an estimated value of more than $118 million. The authorities also froze four related bank accounts with a total balance of more than $6.7 million.
Zhang Ruijin, 44, and a woman he referred to as his lover, Lin Baoying, 43, both Chinese nationals, were each charged with one count of forgery. They were arrested at a bungalow in Pearl Island at Sentosa Cove.
Zhang also allegedly had a passport believed to have been issued by Saint Kitts and Nevis, an island country in the Caribbean. Lin was allegedly found with passports believed to have been issued by the Dominican Republic and Turkey.
The police said officers seized cash of more than $7.6 million, and issued prohibition of disposal orders for nine properties and five vehicles with an estimated value of over $106 million.
Cambodian national Chen Qingyuan, 33, was charged with money laundering after his arrest at his condominium in Leonie Hill Road in the River Valley area.
He was also allegedly found in possession of other passports believed to have been issued by China and the Dominican Republic.
The police seized items including close to $600,000 in cash and other foreign currencies, 23 pieces of jewellery and six luxury watches.
Su Baolin, 41, another Cambodian national, was charged with using a forged document. He was arrested at a good class bungalow (GCB) in Nassim Road. He was allegedly found with another foreign passport believed to have been issued by China.
More than $777,000 in cash, 33 luxury bags and watches, and 75 pieces of jewellery were seized. The police froze three related bank accounts with a total balance of more than $2.4 million.
A 31-year-old Cambodian national, Su Wenqiang, was charged with one count of money laundering on Wednesday, after his arrest at a GCB in Lewis Road bungalow in Bukit Timah.
He allegedly had another passport believed to have been issued by China. The police seized more than $600,000 in cash and 11 pieces of jewellery. They police and froze eight related bank accounts with a total balance of more than $10 million.
A Cypriot, Wang Dehai, 34, arrested at a Paterson Hill condominium, was charged with money laundering. He allegedly had other passports believed to be from China and Cambodia. Police seized items including cash of more than $2.2 million in cash, 35 luxury bags, watches and, and 51 pieces of jewellery.
Ni-Vanuatu national Su Jianfeng, 35, arrested in a Third Avenue Bukit Timah bungalow, was also charged with money-laundering.
He allegedly had another passport believed to be issued by China. Officers seized more than $1.4 million in cash, and luxury items95 pieces of jewellery, and 69 luxury bags and watches.
Turkish national Vang Shuiming, 42, was charged with one count of using a forged document. He was arrested in a GCB in Bishopsgate near Orchard Road and was allegedly found in possession of foreign passports believed to be issued by China and Vanuatu. Police seized close to $720,000 in cash, 36 luxury watches and bags.
Wang Baosen, a 31-year-old Chinese national, was charged with money laundering after he was arrested at a Tomlinson Road condominium in the Orchard area. The police seized cash of close to $112,000,
The cases involving all 10 people have been adjourned to next week.
The offence of money laundering for individuals is punishable with jail for up to 10 years, or a fine of up to $500,000, or both.
Those who commit forgery for the purpose of cheating may be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
The offence of using a forged document is punishable with imprisonment of up to four years, or fine, or both.
Those who resist lawful apprehension may be jailed for up to a year, fined, or both
The Straits Times
