First of 10 accused in S'pore's largest money laundering case sentenced to 13 months in jail

Cambodian national Su Wengiang to forfeit assets worth over 5.9 million to the state

- Wong Shiying and Nadine Chua

Cambodian national Su Wenqiang was sentenced to 13 months in jail after he pleaded guilty on April 2 to money laundering.

The 32-year-old is the first of 10 foreign nationals to be convicted over a probe, led by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), that saw more than $3 billion in cash and assets seized.

The prosecution sought 12 to 15 months in jail for Su, noting his early plea of guilt and his willingness to forfeit his assets worth over $5.9 million to the state.

These assets include luxury items such as a Graff diamond ring, a pair of Dior earrings, a Tiffany & Co bracelet, a Prada bag, a Toyota Alphard vehicle, bottles of Macallan Scotch whisky and cash.

Su's defence lawyers sought 11 months in jail for their client.

Su admitted to two money laundering charges over his possession of more than $600,000 in cash - benefits from unlawful remote gambling offences - and the use of $500,000 in criminal benefits to buy a Mercedes-Benz car.

Another nine charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing. They comprise six for money laundering, one for possessing a forged marriage certificate and two for making false statements to the Ministry of Manpower.

Su, who held passports from Cambodia, Vanuatu and China, appeared in court via video link at around 10.30am. He listened without expression as the statement of facts was read out to him.

He has been in remand for about eight months since his arrest on Aug 15, 2023.

Su was apprehended in a good class bungalow in Lewis Road in Bukit Timah, which he was renting, when the police conducted islandwide raids at luxury homes across Singapore.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Teo told the court that, some time in 2019, Su took part in online gambling activities while he was living in Manila, in the Philippines.