ICA: Three convicted in S$3B money laundering case deported to Cambodia and Japan

SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Sunday (2 June) revealed that Su Baolin, Su Haijin, and Vang Shuiming, three men convicted in Singapore’s S$3 billion money laundering case, have been deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.

Cambodian national Su Baolin and Cypriot national Su Haijin were deported to Cambodia on 25 and 28 May, respectively.

Turkish national Vang Shuiming was deported to Japan on Saturday.

“All three men are barred from re-entering Singapore,” the ICA told Singapore state media CNA.

The trio were among ten individuals arrested in August 2023 by Singapore authorities during an islandwide crackdown. All of them are originally from Fujian, China but hold various passports.

The ICA did not elaborate on why the men were deported to Cambodia or Japan.

However, it previously stated that the deportation location depends on the “admissibility of the foreigner” based on their valid passports.

While Vang was listed as a Turkish national in court documents, he also held passports from China and Vanuatu.

Each of the three men served approximately 9½ months of their jail terms and had been in remand since their arrest on 15 August last year.

Separately, the ICA told The Straits Times that the five convicted individuals were deported on the earliest possible flights upon completing their jail sentences.

An ICA spokesman informed ST: “They were escorted directly from the prison to the airport for deportation and were not permitted to return to their residence to collect their belongings.”

The agency stated that it utilizes multi-modal biometric scanning technology for immigration clearance at Singapore’s checkpoints.

“This enables us to detect deported individuals even if they attempt to re-enter Singapore using another identity or passport,” said ICA.

ICA added that it cannot provide details of its deportation procedures due to operational sensitivities.

Eight of the ten arrested have since been convicted, and a total of five have been expelled from Singapore.

The first two to be deported—Su Wenqiang and Wang Baosen—were sent to Cambodia on 6 May.

Su Wenqiang is a Cambodian national while Wang Baosen is a Chinese national.

Both men, who hold Cambodian passports, were deported to Cambodia after serving about 8½ months of their 13-month jail terms.

Eight of the ten arrested in the S$3 billion money laundering case sentenced to jail terms of 13-15 months so far

Su Baolin, 42, received a 14-month jail sentence on 29 April.

He faced two charges related to money laundering and one for making false representations to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

Authorities confiscated assets worth approximately S$100 million from Su, including cash, vehicles, properties, luxury items, and alcohol.

This included around S$3 million in proceeds from the sale of vehicles such as a Ferrari 488 Spider, Rolls Royce Phantom, and Bentley Flying Spur. Additionally, about S$2 million worth of jewellery and two country club memberships were seized.

After accounting for his debts, the net value of seized assets amounted to approximately S$72 million, suspected to be proceeds from illicit remote gambling activities conducted overseas.

Su Haijin, 41, was also sentenced to 14 months in jail in April. During the raid last year, he jumped off a second-floor balcony at his residence in Ewart Park in an attempt to evade arrest.

He fractured both feet and injured his wrist but managed to escape through a side gate. Su was later found hiding in a drain and arrested.

Su Haijin pleaded guilty to three out of 14 charges, including resisting lawful arrest and possessing around S$1.4 million in criminal proceeds through a shell company, Yihao Cyber Technologies.

About S$170 million worth of assets, including cash, vehicles, and luxury items, were seized from him.

These included 21 bank accounts containing about S$45.6 million, 13 properties (including two houses in Sentosa and three shophouses on North Bridge Road), and a variety of vehicles and luxury items.

Vang, the “richest” among the ten accused and wanted by Chinese authorities

Vang, 43, received a 13-month and six-week jail sentence in May.

In a stark display of rapid wealth accumulation, Vang Shuiming emerges as a standout among the ten individuals embroiled in the S$3 billion money laundering scandal.

He faced the highest number of charges in the money laundering case, with 22 charges, and pleaded guilty to three.

His offences included possessing about S$2.4 million in suspected criminal proceeds and using documents he had reason to believe were forged.

Vang voluntarily forfeited about S$180 million in assets to the state, the largest amount forfeited by any accused in this case.

This was part of more than S$198 million in assets seized from him, including assets paid for but held in the name of his wife, Wang Ruiyan.

These assets included 10 apartments in Clarke Quay, one at Tomlinson Road under construction, and four apartments in the Beach Road area.

Additionally, Vang holds assets exceeding S$35.5 million overseas.

Vang was also wanted in China allegedly for his involvement in the Heng Bo Bao Wang (恒博包网) gambling syndicate, which was uncovered in May 2022.