A Malaysian national was charged yesterday over his role in receiving $500,000 as part of a $5.4 million scam, in which fraudsters allegedly impersonated officials from China.

Looi Yu Chong, 20, is accused of dishonestly receiving the money from a woman when he had reason to believe the money was stolen.

The sum was part of $5.4 million allegedly taken from a 58-year-old woman who had been told by fraudsters to surrender all her money to them to help in investigations.

The woman delivered the money to various strangers here over a week-long period, police said in a statement on Thursday.

The suspects left Singapore after committing the crime, the statement added.

No plea was taken from Looi.

He was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and brought back to Singapore on Thursday.

The prosecution successfully applied for Looi to be remanded at Central Police Division, with permission to take him out for investigation.

Looi will appear in court again on Jan 26.

The maximum punishment for dishonestly receiving stolen property is five years' jail and a fine.