Cypriot national Wang Dehai has agreed to forfeit over S$49 million, or around 90 per cent of his seized assets, to the state. - CHINA POLICE
SINGAPORE: The last of the 10 foreigners to plead guilty in the S$3 billion money laundering case was on Friday (June 7) sentenced to 16 months’ jail – the longest jail term meted out so far.
Cypriot national Wang Dehai, 35, who pleaded guilty to one money laundering charge, has agreed to forfeit over S$49 million, or around 90 per cent of his seized assets, to the state.
Another five charges, including three counts of making a false statement to the Ministry of Manpower’s Controller of Work Passes, were taken into consideration during sentencing.
The court heard that since 2012, Wang was involved in an illegal remote gambling business based in the Philippines that targeted punters in China.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Louis Ngia said he started out as a customer service staff before becoming a promoter with a three per cent share in the business.
In 2016, Wang was given 80 million Chinese yuan (S$15 million) for his role in the gambling business. He was also given HK$8 million (S$1.3 million) in 2022.
The DPP said Wang relocated to Singapore in 2018 as he wanted to live here with his wife and have his children educated here.
Wang’s money laundering charge pertains to him possessing a silver Rimowa luggage that contained over $2.2 million in cash.
When he was arrested on Aug 15, 2023, Wang was questioned by the police on the luggage contents.
He initially claimed the luggage belonged to his wife, but later admitted the cash belonged to him when instructed to open the luggage.
In a statement to the police on Aug 18, 2023, Wang claimed the money came from him selling cryptocurrency, winning mahjong games and that he was given some of the funds from his brother-in-law, Su Yongcan.
A warrant of arrest and an Interpol Red Notice has been issued against Su Yongcan, who is on the run, for money laundering offences.
DPP Ngia said in another statement on Aug 25, 2023, Wang gave a different and inconsistent account that the money came entirely from Su Yongcan in the form of a loan.
Seeking 16 to 17 months’ jail for Wang, DPP Ngia said Wang laundered about $25 million.
Defence lawyer Megan Chia sought 13 months’ jail for her client instead, saying Wang and his wife came to Singapore to raise their three children in a good environment.
She said Wang’s forfeited assets include his family home – a condominium in Paterson Hill near Orchard Road. She added that when Wang moved to Singapore, he ceased to be involved in illegal online gambling operations though he still received payouts.
“There was no malicious intent, they wanted to lead a simple life in Singapore,” she added.
District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz said in response that the defence’s submissions blatantly ignore the fact that Wang’s family home was bought using $23 million in illicit funds.
“I am somewhat perturbed by the (defence’s) characterisation of his family here in Singapore,” the judge added.
Wang was placed on China’s wanted list in 2017 for alleged links to an illegal gambling gang.
In the same notice, two other men in the money laundering case – Su Jianfeng and Su Wenqiang – were also named as major suspects.
More than $940 million in assets have been forfeited by the 10 convicted foreigners.
The police said on June 6 that the $3 billion in cash and assets seized in Singapore’s largest money laundering case belonged to 27 individuals, which included the 10 convicted.
The other 17 people are under investigation.
Of the 10 convicted, Su Wenqiang, Su Haijin, Su Baolin, Wang Baosen, Vang Shuiming, Zhang Ruijin, Chen Qingyuan and Lin Baoying were jailed for between 13 and 15 months each.
Four of them – Su Wenqiang, Wang Baosen, Su Baolin and Su Haijin – were deported to Cambodia between May 6 and May 28.
Vang Shuiming was deported to Japan on June 1.
Su Jianfeng, who pleaded guilty to money laundering and forgery on June 6, will be sentenced on June 10. - The Straits Times/ANN
