What we know about the 10 charged in the anti-money laundering blitz

THE 10 foreign nationals nabbed in the billion-dollar anti-money laundering bust are slated for their next court appearance on Wednesday (Aug 30). All accused will have access to their counsel one day before this date.

This is what has surfaced about them, up to the latest court proceedings on Aug 23:

Su Haijin

The 40-year-old Cypriot was arrested in the early hours of Aug 15 at 16 Ewart Park, a Good Class Bungalow (GCB) near Holland Village.

He was charged with one count of resisting arrest: instead of opening his bedroom door on police orders, he allegedly jumped off a second-floor balcony and was found hiding in a drain.

When he appeared in court on Aug 23 – via a video link, as he was being held at Changi General Hospital (CGH) for injuries from his fall – one hand and one leg were still in casts. A memo from the hospital, which was read out in court, said he had fractured his femur, wrist and heel. 

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jean Ting, the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) seized 18 properties and cars under his and his wife’s names. The total value of these assets was S$160 million. Forensic extraction is underway for 14 devices seized from his residence.

The police were awaiting bank documents from six financial institutions in this case. 

In the initial press release on the bust, the police said they had seized cash of more than S$2.1 million. Multiple ornaments and liquor and wine bottles were also issued prohibition-of-disposal orders, which means they cannot be sold. Four bank accounts with more than S$6.7 million were frozen. 

Su Haijin was a director of seafood restaurant operator No Signboard Holdings from Oct 11, 2021 to Jun 14, 2022.

He had acquired a 20 per cent stake in the group from controlling shareholder GuGong in May 2021. As at Aug 25, there were no filings stating he had sold this stake. 

The Catalist-listed group said in a bourse filing that the accused was not involved in day-to-day operations and did not attend or take part in board meetings. He was not remunerated as he was non-executive and non-independent.

He also had not nominated anyone to the board besides himself, although he had been allowed to nominate up to two persons. None of the members of No Signboard’s board have been in contact with him since his resignation from the board on May 31, 2022.

He is represented by Lee & Lee’s co-head of its litigation and dispute resolution department, Julian Tay.

Tay was allowed by the court to meet his client for 15 minutes at CGH to discuss possible surgery for his fractures. This meeting took place with an investigating officer present and parties were not allowed to discuss case matters or the accused’s rights, as he was still in remand. 

On Aug 23, Su Haijin was allowed to see his family, who were present in court, once, through the video link.

He also requested in Mandarin to be examined by his usual orthopaedic surgeon, without naming names. District Judge Terence Tay said the meeting with his counsel would facilitate such requests.

Su Baolin

The 41-year-old Cambodian national was arrested at a GCB along Nassim Road on Aug 15. He was charged with forging an income declaration certificate from ZhengJiang Chengnabaili Import & Export, which stated he was its executive director, and submitting the forged document to Citibank.

In court on Aug 23, DPP Ng said Su Baolin had multiple properties and cars worth S$130 million in his and his wife’s names. Forensic extraction is underway for 10 devices. 

Documents from nine financial institutions were also pending.

In the police’s initial statement, the items seized from his home were cash of more than S$777,000, 33 luxury bags and watches and 75 pieces of jewellery. Three related bank accounts with a total balance of more than S$2.4 million have been frozen.

He was also found to be in possession of a passport issued by China. 

Su Baolin has a congenital heart condition and was in hospital for a few days after his arrest. The police were able to take statements from him only from Aug 19. 

Due to his condition, his lawyers of Quahe Woo & Partners asked to have him released on bail. DPP Ng, however, argued there was a chance of him colluding with witnesses who were not in remand. Changi Medical Centre, where he is being held, also has adequate facilities to treat his condition. 

Su Baolin’s counsel asked to speak to him for an hour after the Aug 23 hearing to apprise him of his rights, as they had not spoken to him yet. District Judge Tay agreed with DPP Ng that access to counsel at that point could impede investigations, which were at the early stages, and prolong the period of remand. 

In court, Su Baolin asked for permission to see his family members. His counsel said he had told the accused’s family not to come to court, but they were concerned about Su Baolin’s well-being.

Su Jianfeng

The 35-year-old Ni-Vanuatu national was arrested on Aug 15 at a GCB along Third Avenue and charged with money laundering. 

DPP David Koh said the police had seized multiple properties and cars, as well as bank accounts with a “substantial amount of money”. They also found S$1.4 million in cash and 18 devices that are currently being examined. 

They were pending documents from 10 financial institutions, the most for a single accused individual in this case.

In the statement, the police said they had also seized 95 pieces of jewellery, 69 luxury bags and watches, and two gold bars. The number of properties and vehicles that cannot be sold were 13 and four, respectively, with a total estimated value of more than S$120 million.

The police also froze six bank accounts with more than S$20 million. 

The accused is represented by Ravindran Ramasamy of CNPLaw. He was hired by Su Jianfeng’s wife, whose family name is Chen.

Su Jianfeng’s wife had asked through his counsel to be able to meet her husband in-person on “compassionate grounds”. The prosecution said they were “not in the position to agree”, as the wife is also a witness in the investigations. 

The request can be made at the end of this period of remand, to the CAD, they said. 

Ramasamy also requested the prosecution “reach out to counsel early” and provide early indication for the bail amount and number of assurances required.

Chen Qingyuan

The 33-year-old Cambodian national was arrested on Aug 15 at his residence in a Leonie Hill Road condominium. He was charged with one count of money laundering. 

DPP Edwin Soh told the court that police had seized three luxury cars and one property, with a total value of around S$10 million. The police are still tracing the source of the funds for these assets.

The case was pending documents from six financial institutions. 

According to the police’s news release, cash of close to S$600,000, 23 pieces of jewellery, six luxury watches, 11 documents with information on virtual assets, and 12 electronic devices were seized. Two bank accounts with more than S$28,000 were frozen.

He also had passports issued by China and Dominica in his possession. 

Denise Teo of Yuen Law had been hired by Chen’s family but discharged herself. Genesa Tan and Mark Tan of Focus Law Asia were hired by Chen’s wife to take over the case and will be able to speak to him on Aug 29.

In court on Aug 23, Chen asked to make a phone call to his family members. The request was denied as DPP Soh pointed out his wife had information on Chen’s assets and speaking to him may lead to “some discussion in relation to dissipation of assets”. 

This was a concern as external parties may be involved in the case, he added.

Vang Shuiming

The 42-year-old Turkish national was arrested on Aug 15 at a GCB along Bishopsgate and charged with forging a China Merchant Bank statement and submitting it to Citibank Singapore.

DPP Koh said “a number of properties and vehicles” were seized from Vang, as well as three devices currently under review. He said the police are looking into how the properties and vehicles were financed, as well as the dealers involved. 

In its initial press release, the police said they had seized close to S$720,000 in cash, an electronic device and 36 luxury watches and bags. Prohibition of disposal orders were issued for four properties, three vehicles, as well as multiple bottles of liquor and wine.

Two bank accounts with more than S$1.18 million were also frozen.

Vang, also known as Wang Shuiming, possessed a Chinese and Vanuatu passport in addition to his Turkish documentation, said the police. 

Terence Seah of Virtus Law appeared in the first court hearing as Vang’s counsel. On Aug 23, Seah discharged himself. Vang is now represented by Wendell Wong, Drew & Napier’s co-head of criminal law practice.

In court, Wong asked to have his client out on bail. Failing that, he asked to see his client for 15 minutes to take instructions and apprise him of his rights. Wong and DPP Koh sparred at length over both issues, but the court did not grant either request.

Su Wenqiang

The 31-year-old Cambodian national was arrested on Aug 15 at a GCB along Lewis Road and charged with one count of money laundering. 

DPP Koh said the CAD had seized S$600,000 under his wife’s name. Forensic extraction is underway for five mobile phones and two laptops. 

His case was pending documents from two financial institutions. 

Police said they had also seized 16 luxury bags and watches and 11 pieces of jewellery. Prohibition of disposal orders were issued for multiple bottles of liquor and wine, as well as for two vehicles with an estimated worth of S$580,000.

Eight bank accounts with more than S$10 million and other currencies were frozen.

A passport issued by China was also found in his possession.

In court on Aug 23, Su Wenqiang claimed to own only three mobile phones and no laptops. He was told that he can dispute the ownership of these items, and that the DPP could inform the court only that these items were seized by the investigating officer. 

Su Wenqiang also requested to have the case brought forward to an earlier date, but this was denied by District Judge Tay as investigations were still underway. 

The accused is represented by Manoj Nandwani from Gabriel Law Corporation.

Zhang Ruijin

The 44-year-old Chinese national was arrested at a bungalow along Pearl Island at Sentosa Cove, with another accused, Lin Baoying.

Zhang and Lin were both charged with seeking to cheat CIMB about their ownership and sale of a property in Macau.

In addition, Deutsche Bank is a creditor to a Singapore company, Golden Eagle Assets, where Zhang and Lin are directors. The bank has not been named in the investigations.

DPP Koh said the police had seized multiple properties and cars under Zhang’s name. They had also seized S$14 million in cash from the residence he shared with Lin, and forensic examination was underway for 17 devices. 

Bank documents from five financial institutions were pending. 

In the press release from the police, nine properties and five vehicles under Zhang and Lin collectively had an estimated value of more than S$106 million.

A bank account with more than S$22 million has been frozen.

Zhang also had a passport from St Kitts and Nevis. 

During his first appearance in court on Aug 16, Zhang referred to Lin as his lover: “You can separate her crimes from me; we are just lovers... You can bail me out, but remand her.” 

On Aug 23, he asked to see his lawyer and family. His counsel, of Loo & Partners, will be able to meet him on Aug 29. His request to see his family was denied.

Lin Baoying

The 43-year-old Chinese national was arrested at a bungalow along Pearl Island at Sentosa Cove.

DPP Soh said the police had seized five properties and two cars under her name, worth a total of S$72 million. Bank documents from five institutions were pending. Her spouse is said to have maintained accounts with the banks. 

During the bust, she was found with passports issued by Dominica and Turkey.

Like Zhang, Lin is also represented by Loo & Partners.

Wang Dehai

The 34-year-old Cypriot was arrested on Aug 15 at a Paterson Hill condominium and charged with one count of money laundering.

DPP Ng said the CAD had seized multiple properties and cars under his and his wife’s names, worth S$49 million. They are also examining 11 seized devices. Bank documents from five financial institutions were pending. 

Police had seized cash of more than S$2.2 million, 35 luxury watches and bags and 51 pieces of jewellery. They also froze five bank accounts with S$1.7 million in total.

Wang Dehai had been found with passports from China and Cambodia. 

In court on Aug 23, he claimed to be “illegally detained” as he had been in Singapore for five years and had not done anything unlawful. District Judge Tay told him there was a “proper forum” for him to make his defence. 

He is represented by Adrian Wee, managing partner of Lighthouse Law, who was hired at his wife’s request. Wee is also representing Wang Baosen, another accused.

Wang Baosen

The 31-year-old Chinese national was arrested on Aug 15 at a Tomlinson Road condominium and charged with money laundering. 

DPP Koh said the police had seized one property under his wife’s name and one vehicle under his own. They also found cash of over S$100,000. 

The case is pending documents from four financial institutions. 

In a press release, the police said they had seized three electronic devices and found a Vanuatu passport in Wang Baosen’s name. 

Wee is also representing Wang Baosen.