All remaining charges withdrawn for man whose two brothers led Singapore organised criminal group

SINGAPORE – An elderly man, whose two brothers were leaders of a local organised criminal group, has had his five remaining charges withdrawn, almost three years after being sentenced for unlawful gambling activities.

Seet Siau Khuang, 75, received a discharge amounting to an acquittal on Feb 13. This means he cannot be charged again over the same offences.

In a statement on Feb 19, the Attorney-General’s Chambers told The Straits Times: “After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the matter, the prosecution applied for a (discharge amounting to an acquittal) for Seet’s remaining charges.”

One of the charges was under the Organised Crime Act, while the remaining four were linked to unlawful gambling activities.

In one of the withdrawn charges, he was accused of being a member of the criminal group.

In earlier proceedings, the prosecution described his two brothers’ criminal group as “one of the most profitable and elusive illegal remote gambling syndicates which thrived under the cloak of technology for half a decade”.

The court heard that in less than two years, the group collected $97.68 million in revenue from a gambling website that it operated.

In April 2022, Seet was sentenced to four weeks’ jail and a fine of $30,000 for his involvement in unlawful gambling activities.

He had gone to a wet market at Block 48A Tanglin Halt Road on Aug 4, 2013. A group of police officers saw him there that afternoon and interacted with him.

Court documents did not state what prompted the officers to speak to Seet.

The court heard that 75 separate pieces of paper and $574 in cash were found in his possession.

Seet was then taken to the Alexandra Neighbourhood Police Centre.

The pieces of paper were sent to a station inspector from the Criminal Investigation Department. He was an expert on gambling-related matters.

In a subsequent report, the officer stated that some of the papers contained records of bets linked to illegal lottery activities. These illicit bets amounted to $95.10, the court heard.

On Nov 27, 2016, Seet was arrested again on new allegations of illicit gambling-related offences. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced in 2022.

His brothers – Seet Seo Boon and Seet Sian Thian – were dealt with in court earlier.

In March 2022, Seet Seo Boon, then 57, was sentenced to nine years, eight months and two weeks in jail. He was also fined $620,000.

He pleaded guilty in December 2021 to seven charges for offences that include those under the Organised Crime Act, as well as for dealing with the benefits of his ill-gotten gains.

In August 2022, Seet Sian Thian, then 74, was sentenced to 4½ years’ jail and fined $141,000 after he pleaded guilty to four charges, including two under the Organised Crime Act.

Another brother, Seet Seow Huat, 69, was alleged to be one of the criminal group’s leaders. His pre-trial conference will take place on Feb 27.