Singapore police arrest ex-superyacht captain linked to alleged Cambodian scam kingpin Chen Zhi

The Singapore police have arrested a US-sanctioned man who operated a superyacht for the alleged mastermind of one of Asia’s largest scam networks.

Nigel Tang Wan Bao Nabil was taken into custody on Dec 11 after he returned to Singapore, a police statement said on Dec 18, in response to a query from Bloomberg News.

He is currently out on bail, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity as the information is not public.

He was arrested for “suspected involvement in money laundering offences”, linked to Chen Zhi and companies associated with him, the police said in the statement.

The

US authorities have indicted Chen Zhi, a China-born Cambodian citizen

, accusing him of leading a transnational criminal ring that ran a network of scam compounds with enslaved workers. 

Prosecutors alleged that Chen Zhi and his Prince Holding Group stole from victims of online “pig butchering” operations in the US and other countries and laundered billions of dollars in illicit funds. The US said the 38-year-old is currently “at large”. 

Tang, 32, is one of three Singapore citizens sanctioned by the US in October for their ties to Chen, founder and chairman of Prince, the Cambodian conglomerate.

He was captain of a superyacht called Nonni II, owned by Chen Zhi, and is a director and operations head of a Singapore-registered company called Warpcapital Yacht Management, according to the US Treasury.

Chen Zhi and his associates held frequent parties on the 53m superyacht, Bloomberg has reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Tang is also head of operations at Capital Zone Warehousing, a Chen Zhi-controlled Singapore company that operated a tax-exempt warehouse for imported alcohol and tobacco products.

Tang did not respond to a request for comment, while Prince has denied the scam allegations. 

Since the US unveiled its case against Chen Zhi and Prince, the authorities in Singapore and other countries have stepped up their own investigations into the group’s activities. 

In late October, the Singapore police said they had seized or barred the sale of more than $150 million in assets linked to Chen Zhi and his associates, including properties, bank accounts, vehicles, bottles of liquor and a yacht. At the time, the police said Chen Zhi and his known associates were not in Singapore.

Bank accounts

At least 15 bank accounts were among the assets seized, according to a court filing seen by Bloomberg News. 

In November, four Singapore companies controlled by Chen Zhi – including his local family office and Capital Zone Warehousing – applied to a local court for a limited release of funds from some frozen accounts to pay former and current employees’ salaries, and cover legal and other expenses.

Another US-sanctioned Singaporean, Karen Chen Xiuling, is driving the application and is currently travelling in Cambodia, according to the document.

The companies’ legal team argued that they face “severe consequences” if they cannot meet their contractual and legal obligations via release of the funds.

It said in another filing that the companies need to pay outstanding rent despite being evicted from their premises, and they owe salaries to all employees who have left.

Only two employees remain, including Karen Chen.

Mr Clarence Lun Yaodong, a lawyer representing the four companies, Warpcapital Yacht Management and Karen Chen, said in response to queries from Bloomberg that a court has heard the application and will decide on the matter.

Malaysia’s largest bank, Malayan Banking, and Britain-based Revolut held more than US$3.2 million (S$4.13 million) for companies controlled by Chen Zhi and his associates, according to a separate filing by prosecutors.

The companies had accounts at Singapore bank OCBC and Malaysia’s RHB Bank, which have been seized, according to the affidavit supporting the application.

Chen Zhi’s companies also had accounts with Malaysia’s CIMB Group Holdings, which have since been closed.

OCBC declined to comment, while RHB said it is unable to comment as the matter is now under police investigation.

CIMB’s Singapore branch said it does not comment on any individuals or entities.

Revolut said in an earlier statement that it is unable to comment further on a matter before the courts. Maybank did not respond to a request for comment.

Singapore prosecutors have objected to the request to unfreeze the money, saying in their court submission that the funds “are suspected tainted properties” related to suspected criminal activities.

They said the Commercial Affairs Department – the police’s white-collar crime unit  – is investigating Chen Zhi, his key associates and related companies.

They added that Karen Chen and Alan Yeo, another sanctioned Singapore citizen who is chief executive of the family office, did not respond to the department’s requests to be interviewed. BLOOMBERG