Three Chinese nationals were charged with a new crime syndicate in Singapore on Tuesday ( 8 October 2024 ) and were allegedly charged with being members of a global cybercrime syndicate based in Singapore.
According to the most recent information, there is a flow of money, amounting to about S$ 11.6 million ( US$ 8.9 million ) dedicated to the group’s maintenance and links to South Korea.
The trio is a part of a larger group of seven men, all Chinese nationals with the exception of one Singaporean, according to CNA’s report. The court records, charge sheets, and a prior press statement jointly released by the police and the Internal Security Department ( ISD ).
The team is alleged to operate from a home in Mount Sinai and is linked to a worldwide syndicate engaged in cybercrime, according to a police statement from September 10th.
Authorities seized notebooks and other tech from the suspects, which had access to credentials to obtain Internet servers held by well-known thief groups, stolen data from international victims, system hacking tools that exploit vulnerabilities in Internet servers, and special software to defend malware.
The Chinese nationals officially entered Singapore with work permits for building work, but they reportedly did not stay at the place of employment for their authorized employers.
On September 9, the suspects were detained in parallel island-wide raids carried out by roughly 160 officers from the Singapore Police Force ( SPF ) and ISD.
The seven accused people are: Sun Jiao, 42, Zhang Qingqiao, 38, Chen Yiren, 42, Yan Peijian, 38, Huang Qin Zheng, 35, Liu Yuqi, 32, and Singaporean Goh Shi Yong, 34. The three gentlemen receiving new claims on Tuesday are Sun, Zhang, and Chen.
Chen Allegedly Received S$ 11.6 Million for Criminal Group’s Bills
Chen’s fresh charge alleges he received S$ 11.6 million from an individual known as” Biao Ge”, which he apparently spent on the book, maintenance, and costs of an organised legal team, including Yan, Huang, Liu, and Sun.
This supposedly covers the cost of the Mount Sinai home. Of the total amount, Chen is accused of having “expended” about S$ 399, 000 on 11 times between 2022 and 2024, under the Organised Crime Act.
On July 28, 2023, Zhang is accused of aiding two people, Lee Kok Leong and Lim Clovis Leslie, to obtain the private information of unknown people.
While he was in Singapore on August 12, 2023, Sun was accused of sending a document containing the personal data of 1, 055 unfamiliar North Korean citizens to a WhatsApp chat group.
Furthermore, he is accused of receiving 772, 500 USDT in crypto from a bag belonging to co-accused Liu, which reportedly stemmed from legal do.
Defendants Accused of Targeting Websites to Hack Vulnerabilities and Handle Stolen Personal Data
The suspects have previously been accused of targeting websites to look for open ports and abuse vulnerabilities, offering to pay American citizens for their online gaming accounts, and sending a file containing the personal details of 9, 369 Thai people to other events.
According to a lawyer’s entries in fruitless loan reviews on 1 October, the Chinese citizens involved are foreigners engaged in syndicated, international offences, with amounts involved “in surplus of S$ 1 million”.
According to the Coleman Street Chambers people experiencing list, Mr. Hong Qibin, Ms. Elaine Cai, and Mr. Daniel Chia are all defending Sun. Chen is defended by Mr. Steven John Lam from Templars Law, while Yan is defended by Mr. Ong Kelvin from Contigo Law.
Mr. Lee Teck Leng from Legal Clinic represents both Huang and Liu.
Mr. Sunil Sudheesan and Ms. Joyce Khoo from Quahe Woo &, Palmer, and Mr. Quickly Wei Song from Goh JP &, Wong, represent Zhang in his defense.
Sun and Chen are scheduled for loan opinions on 10 October. The various five people are scheduled to appear in court later this month, while the others have been remanded for roughly a month.
Seow Gim Shen ( 42 ) and Kong Chien Hoi ( 39 ), two Malaysian men, are also facing charges in Singapore for conspiring to give the personal information of 9, 369 people from Thailand in a file sent from Singapore. They are scheduled to enter a guilty plea the following month.
