At The Courts 12 Alleged Members Of Group Linked To $40m In Scam Losses Charged

Twelve alleged members of a scam syndicate have been charged, with police saying the group operated out of Cambodia but targeted victims in Singapore.

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

The syndicate, which was secretly operating out of a scam centre in Phnom Penh, is believed to be responsible for at least 330 reported cases involving more than $40 million in losses.

The 12 people were each handed a charge under the Organised Crime Act on Sept 11.

Nine of them — Deon Tan Ke Yuan, 25; Lester Ng Jing Hai, 29; Christy Neo Wei En, 29; Heiqal Lee, 30; Tay Jun Xiang, 32; Ng Wei Kang, 33; Zachary Lee Jia An, 35; Melvin Tan Wenzheng, 35 and Lau Haoxiang, 39 — are Singaporeans.

The remaining three are Malaysians Muhamad Asyraf Anuar and Yip Chee Ming, both 29, and Filipina De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban, 34.

According to court documents, the 12 are alleged to be members of a locally linked organised criminal group. Their cases have been adjourned to Sept 18.