Crime gangs rope in family members to limit risk of betrayal, exposure: Experts

By involving people they trust, they think they can protect each other when caught

- Christine Tan and Andrew Wong Correspondent

Organised crime groups, including the Cambodia-based scam syndicate allegedly led by a pair of Singaporean brothers, may recruit family members to limit the risk of exposure and betrayal. Experts say criminals could involve their family members as they trust them and think they can protect each other when they are caught.

Mr Edwin Sam, a director at Redwood Psychology, which offers forensic psychology services, said there is trust and a sense of loyalty among family members. “All of these can be motivating factors for people to enlist their siblings in activities that carry high risk and are illegal in nature,” he added.

Mr Siraj Shaik Aziz, head of criminal defence at Silvester Legal LLC, said the family’s economic circumstances may be another motivation. “They could be facing financial difficulties, and see this as a way out for them together,” he added.

Mr Siraj said there have been several notable cases in Singapore, such as the three Seet brothers who were arrested in 2016 for leading an organised criminal group involved in unlawful gambling activities.

In September, 15 members of an alleged scam syndicate operating out of Cambodia were charged in Singapore under the Organised Crime Act. Thirty-four others were later revealed to be on the run.

The syndicate was allegedly run by fugitive Ng Wei Liang, who is said to have recruited his older brother Ng Wei Kang, 33; cousin Lester Ng Jing Hai, 29; and girlfriend Christy Neo Wei En, 29, into the scheme.