2 Singaporean men charged over alleged links with Cambodia-based scam syndicate

SINGAPORE – Two Singaporeans,

deported from Cambodia and Thailand

for allegedly being part of a Cambodia-based organised criminal group, were charged on Nov 17.

Wayne Soh You Chen, 27, and Brian Sie Eng Fa, 32, who appeared in court via video link, were each handed a charge under the Organised Crime Act.

They are accused of facilitating the commission of a serious offence – cheating – linked to an organised criminal group, whose victims lost at least $41 million across 438 cases.

The two men are said to have committed their offences in Cambodia on or around Sept 9.

Court documents stated that they were allegedly scam callers in a call centre at the time.

The Phnom Penh-based syndicate allegedly ran government official impersonation scams targeting victims in Singapore, and the pair were among

34 suspects wanted

by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for being part of the group.

Soh and Sie were nabbed by foreign police in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Khon Kaen, Thailand, respectively, said SPF in a statement on Nov 16. They were deported to Singapore that day and arrested.

Twenty-five other Singaporeans and seven Malaysians remain at large.

The syndicate was allegedly

run by fugitive Singaporean Ng Wei Liang

, who purportedly recruited his older brother, cousin and girlfriend into the scheme.

While Ng is on the run, others were

charged in September under the Organised Crime Act

.

The group’s activities were disrupted during a joint operation by SPF and the Cambodian National Police on Sept 9.

SPF said it worked with the Cambodian police and the Royal Thai Police on the arrests.

Malaysian police previously said they are

pursuing the seven Malaysian suspects

.

SPF had earlier issued prohibition of disposal orders, and seized assets linked to the group.

For each charge under the Organised Crime Act, an offender can be jailed for up to five years, fined up to $100,000, or both.

On Nov 17, both Soh and Sie were ordered to be remanded at the Central Police Division.

Soh is represented by lawyer Gino Hardial Singh, while Sie is unrepresented.

Their cases have been adjourned to Nov 24.

SPF had earlier urged anyone with information on the suspects’ whereabouts to call its hotline on 1800-255-0000 (or +65 6255-0000 for overseas callers) or submit information online at

www.police.gov.sg/i-witness

All information received will be kept strictly confidential.