Reformative training for man whose bank account received more than $952k, including scam proceeds

SINGAPORE – Acting on the instructions of an administrator of a Telegram group, a man opened a bank account which was later used to receive more than $952,000, including at least $18,000 in scam proceeds.

Muhammad Zul Haziq Muhammad Hisam, 21, had also recruited an 18-year-old girl to “rent out” her bank account, telling her that she could earn $1,400 if she did that.

After the girl accepted the offer, her bank account received more than $15,000 linked to a scam case involving a 72-year-old female retiree who lost $338,640 in a ruse.

The girl received the promised $1,400. Zul, who had a bank account frozen earlier for previous scam-related offences, received a $300 commission for recruiting her.

On April 9, the Singaporean man was ordered to undergo reformative training for at least six months. He will be detained in a centre to observe a strict regimen that can include foot drills and counselling.

He had pleaded guilty to offences including dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct.

In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim urged the court to call for a report to assess Zul’s suitability for reformative training and reject any calls for a probation suitability report.

He added: “While the law presumes that rehabilitation is the dominant sentencing consideration where youth offenders are concerned, deterrence features as a key sentencing consideration in the present case.”

The prosecutor also said that in offences that are committed against a financial institution, general deterrence is a key sentencing consideration.

For dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct, an offender can be jailed for up to three years and fined up to $50,000.

Court documents stated that in September 2023, the girl asked Zul if he knew of any job opportunities for her.

He later put her in contact with one “Yijin” and created a Telegram group chat with himself, the girl and Yijin as its members.

DPP Lim told the court that Zul was aware that it was illegal for the girl to relinquish control of her bank account to Yijin, but he was “motivated by the prospect of gain”.

In the group chat, Yijin sent a templated message and asked the girl to fill it up with information such as her full name and details linked to her bank account.

The teenager was also asked to change the e-mail address and contact number linked to her online banking to those specified by Yijin, who also requested the use of her automated teller machine (ATM) card.

Two days after the girl handed over the ATM card via a courier, Yijin contacted Zul and asked for his bank details so that $1,700 could be transferred to him.

From this amount, the girl received $1,400, while Zul received $300.

In mid-September 2023, more than $15,000 was credited into the teenager’s bank account before the money was debited out.

Separately, in August 2024, Zul was added to a Telegram group purporting to facilitate the trading and investment of cryptocurrency.

Interested in finding out more, he contacted one of the administrators of the group, an unknown person, who asked him to open multiple accounts, including one with a bank.

Zul opened a bank account on Sept 9, 2024, the court heard.

He later received instructions from the unknown person to purchase USDT cryptocurrency by using funds that were periodically transferred into his bank account.

DPP Lim said: “The accused would also sell the purchased USDT to other unknown individuals, as instructed by the... person, and transfer the proceeds of such sales to the... person.

“At no point in time did the accused take reasonable steps to verify the source or destination of the money he was receiving in or transferring out of the (bank account).”

Between Sept 9 and 25, 2024, the bank account received over $952,000, at least $18,000 of which was scam proceeds. Most of the money was later debited out.

By the time the police froze the account, it contained only $2.51.

In another case, Zul got to know a Telegram user known as “Heidushes” in early August 2024.

Heidushes then asked him to create an account with a separate bank and share its details in exchange for $2,550.

Zul accepted the offer and did as he was told.

On Sept 11 and 12, 2024, more than $5,000 in scam proceeds was funnelled through the bank account. It contained only one cent by the time the police froze it.

Zul’s bail was set at $10,000 on April 9. He is expected to begin serving his sentence in May.