Singapore convicts first suspect in $2.2 billion money laundering case, media reports

SINGAPORE – A Singapore court on Tuesday convicted the first defendant in its biggest-ever money laundering case, local media reported, in one of the city-state’s highest-profile crime probes over which more than $2.2 billion of assets has been seized or frozen.

Defendant Su Wenqiang, a Cambodian national, admitted to 11 charges of money laundering and taking proceeds from illegal remote gambling, Channel News Asia reported.

The Straits Times newspaper said he was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment.

Reuters could not verify the reports and attorney general’s chambers did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation.

Su, who holds passports from Cambodia, Vanuatu and China, is one of 10 foreigners holding multiple citizenships arrested in Singapore in August last year in simultaneous raids.

The raids captured huge attention locally, with S$1 billion ($739.37 million) worth of luxury properties, cars, gold bars, handbags and jewellry seized.

Police had earlier said the 10 suspects were allegedly “laundering the proceeds of their overseas organized crime activities, including scams and online gambling”. – Reuters