Jail for woman who let her firm's bank account receive scam funds

A company's sole director got involved in a scheme with a money laundering syndicate and the firm's bank account later received the benefits of an impersonation scam totaling US$952,000 (over S$1.27 million).

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

Chinese national Chen Binjue, 41, who was then heading public relations firm Dionysuss Lifestyle, was sentenced to two years and four months' jail on Nov 5.

The Singapore permanent resident had pleaded guilty to one count of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct.

Eight other charges for offences including forgery were considered during sentencing.

The prosecution said that almost all the money, save for around $3,000, has been returned to the victim - a firm based in the United Kingdom.

Chen incorporated Dionysuss Lifestyle in 2016, but a search with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority on Nov 5 revealed she is no longer a director at the company.

In 2019, she got involved in a scheme with a money laundering syndicate made up of unknown people from China.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kathy Chu told the court: "She agreed to allow Dionysuss' (bank account) in Singapore to be used to receive the syndicate's monies.

"She had reasonable grounds to believe the syndicate was engaged in criminal conduct and that its monies were benefits of (crime)."