Pair linked to scams handled crime benefits; one withdrew over $770k from ATMs, another nearly $660k

SINGAPORE – A man withdrew more than $770,000 in scam benefits from ATMs while another took out nearly $660,000, before the pair handed most of the money to others.

Malaysians Chang Yang – who had withdrawn the larger amount – and Ivan Thong Yoong Khean were then working for a transnational syndicate linked to government official impersonation scams involving multiple vulnerable and elderly victims.

The men would retain up to $600 each time they withdrew the ill-gotten gains.

In total, Chang, 22, earned around RM50,000 (S$16,000), while Thong, 26, earned approximately RM10,000.

On Feb 11, the two men each pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a conspiracy to handle the benefits of other unknown individuals’ criminal conduct involving more than $403,000 in total.

Each man has other charges that will be considered during their sentencing, including those relating to the remaining amounts.

The pair committed the offences despite having reasonable grounds to believe that the individuals had engaged in illegal activities, or benefited from such conduct.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Karl Tan said that in September 2023, Thong took a loan involving an undisclosed amount from an acquaintance as he needed money urgently.

Thong wanted to begin repayments in February 2024, but was unable to do so.

The unnamed acquaintance then suggested a “job opportunity” to him, which included tasks like withdrawing cash from ATMs in Singapore.

Thong agreed to take on the job, and was added to two group chats on messaging platform Telegram.

Separately, Chang borrowed around RM100,000 from an unknown person, who said that he could pay off the debt by following instructions in the same group chats.

This individual then added Chang to them in May 2024.

DPP Tan said: “Each week, Ivan and Chang Yang would receive their ‘duty rosters’ in (one of the groups), which had set out the identities of pairs... tasked with entering Singapore on certain days... to do cash withdrawals at various ATMs.

“On average, Ivan and Chang Yang were on ‘duty’ about two to three times a week.”

The two men would receive instructions in the other group chat after they entered Singapore.

They were then told how much to withdraw, which ATM cards to use, and the one-time password for each card, if necessary.

At times, these cards were retrieved from a locker at a shopping mall near Orchard Road.

There were also instances when a delivery driver would hand the cards to Chang and Thong.

The location of the withdrawals was left to the pair’s discretion, the court heard.

On 24 occasions between May and December 2024, the men withdrew more than $403,000 in total from ATMs at places including Orchard Road, Tiong Bahru and Punggol.

After taking their cut, Thong would pass the remaining money to a third party who was unknown to him.

There were also times when Chang would take the cash back to Malaysia.

Court documents did not disclose how the offences came to light, but the pair were arrested in Orchard Road on Dec 5, 2024.

Thirty-six ATM cards and $34,720 were found in their possession. DPP Tan added that another 15 ATM cards were found in the locker.

Chang and Thong will be sentenced on March 6.