Seven persons, aged 17 to 46, will be charged in court on 27 September 2023 for their suspected involvement in money laundering activities linked to banking-related phishing scam cases involving malware, which resulted in losses from victims’ bank accounts.

Between 3 June 2023 and 24 August 2023, the Police received several reports informing that malware was used to compromise Android mobile devices, resulting in unauthorised transactions made from the victims’ bank accounts, even when they had not divulged their Internet banking credentials, One-Time-Passwords (OTPs) or Singpass credentials to anyone. In these cases, the victims responded to advertisements (e.g. on cleaning services, pet grooming, food items such as mooncake, durian, seafood, groceries, etc.) via Whatsapp and Facebook. They were then instructed by the scammers to download Android Package Kit (or APK) from non-official app stores to facilitate the purchase, which led to malware being installed on the victims’ mobile devices.

The scammers would convince the victims via phone calls or text messages to turn on accessibility services on their Android phones and by doing so, phones’ security would be weakened, and scammers would be able to take full control of the phones. Scammers could then log every keystroke, steal banking credentials stored on the phones to remotely access the victims’ banking apps, add money mules as payees, raise payment limits and transfer monies out to money mules. The scammers could further delete SMS and email notifications of the bank transactions to cover their tracks.
Through follow up investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department arrested the seven persons. Investigations revealed that the seven persons are suspected to be involved in the following cases of money laundering. The cases are:

1. In March 2023, a 26-year-old man responded to an online advertisement on Telegram which offered him fast cash, and later agreed to disclose his three Internet banking credentials to an unknown person who had offered him at least $1,200 monthly in return for renting out his bank accounts. His bank accounts were subsequently used to launder proceeds of crime;
   
2. In June 2023, two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, agreed to disclose their Internet banking credentials to unknown persons after responding to an online investment scheme and fast cash opportunity separately. Their bank accounts were then used to launder criminal proceeds;
   
3. In June 2023, a 46-year-old man responded to an online job advertisement which offered him a sign-up bonus in return for using his two bank accounts. Two new bank accounts were later opened without his knowledge. His bank accounts were subsequently used to launder proceeds of crime;
   
4. In July 2023, a 21-year-old man responded to an online advertisement on Telegram which offered him fast cash, and later agreed to disclose his Internet banking credentials and personal information to an unknown person. Three other bank accounts were later opened without his knowledge. His bank accounts were then used to launder criminal proceeds;
   
5. In August 2023, a 22-year-old man responded to an online advertisement on Telegram which offered him fast cash, and later agreed to disclose his Singpass credentials to an unknown person. His Singpass credentials were subsequently misused to open a bank account which was then used to launder criminal proceeds; and
   
6. In August 2023, a 18-year-old teenager handed over his Internet banking credentials and ATM card to an unknown person who had offered him cash in return for usinghis bank account. His bank account was subsequently used to launder proceeds of crime. 

For disclosing Singpass credentials, the offence under Section 8(2)(a) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries an imprisonment term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding $10,000, or both, for a first-time offender.

For conspiring to cheat the bank into opening the bank account, the offence under Section 417 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term not exceeding three years, a fine, or both. For abetting unknown persons to secure unauthorised access to the bank’s computer system, the offence under Section 3(1) read with Section 12 and Section 14 of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries a fine not exceeding $5,000, an imprisonment term not exceeding two years, or both, for a first-time offender.

The Police take a serious view of these offences and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice in these crimes, members of the public should always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy pay-outs for the use of their Singpass accounts, bank accounts, or allow their personal bank accounts to be used to receive and transfer money for others. The Police would like to remind members of the public that individuals will be held accountable if they are found to be linked to such crimes.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

The Police are investigating 124 persons, aged between 14 and 72, for their suspected involvement in unlicensed moneylending activities.

During a five-day anti-unlicensed moneylending operation conducted between 18 and 22 September 2023, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the seven Police land divisions conducted simultaneous raids island-wide.

Preliminary investigations revealed that 11 persons had allegedly conducted harassment at debtors’ residences, 40 persons, believed to be runners, had assisted in unlicensed moneylending businesses by carrying out Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transfers, and one person is believed to have provided false contact information leading to harassment being carried out at an innocent victim’s residence.

The remaining 72 persons are believed to have opened bank accounts and provided their ATM cards, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and/or Internet Banking tokens to unlicensed moneylenders to facilitate their unlicensed moneylending businesses.

Investigations against all the persons are ongoing.

Under the Moneylenders Act 2008, when a bank account, ATM card or Internet Banking token of any person is used to facilitate moneylending by an unlicensed moneylender, that person is presumed to have assisted in carrying on the business of unlicensed moneylending.  First-time offenders found guilty of the offence of carrying on or assisting in a business of unlicensed moneylending shall be punished with imprisonment term of up to four years, a fine of not less than $30,000 and not more than $300,000 and caning of not more than six strokes. First-time offenders found guilty of the offence of acting on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender to commit or attempt to commit any acts of harassment shall be punished with imprisonment term of up to five years, a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $50,000, and caning of not less than three and not more than six strokes.

Any person found guilty of the offence of providing false contact information to obtain loans from unlicensed moneylenders shall be punished with imprisonment term of up to 12 months. Under the National Registration Act, any person who is guilty of an offence of failing to report a change of address within 28 days shall be punished with a fine of not more than $5,000, or to imprisonment term of up to five years, or to both.

The Police will continue to take tough enforcement action against those involved in the unlicensed moneylending business, regardless of their roles, and ensure that they face the full brunt of the law. This includes taking action against those who open or give away their bank accounts to aid unlicensed moneylenders.

Unlicensed moneylenders are increasingly using text messaging or online platforms to send unsolicited loan advertisements. Members of the public are reminded not to reply or respond to such advertisements and to report these messages as spam. Members of the public are also advised to stay away from unlicensed moneylenders and not to work with or assist them in any way. The public can call the Police at ‘999’ or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664 if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in unlicensed moneylending activities.

34-year-old Phua Kai Liang, a former Maybank Singapore service manager, misappropriated more than $1.4 million in total from his workplace safe over a span of 15 occasions from March 23 to June 10, 2021, according to The Straits Times.

He pleaded guilty to charges that included criminal breach of trust, and he was sentenced on 27 September to three years and 10 months of imprisonment.

He is currently out on a bail of $30,000 and is required to surrender himself on 30 October to the State Courts to begin his jail sentence.

A Desperate Gamble

Phua, who held the position of a service manager at a Maybank branch located in Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, was responsible for counting the cash in the safe and managing its security alarm, including arming and disarming it.

In early 2021, he suffered heavy losses from trading in the foreign exchange market which left him unable to repay his mounting credit card debts.

Desperation pushed him to borrow money from friends, family, and licensed moneylenders in an attempt to alleviate his financial woes.

In a bid to recoup his losses and repay his debts, Phua resorted to gambling at a casino. This decision only compounded his problems, as he continued to lose money. With no other viable options, he made a fateful decision in March 2021.

The Perfect Crime

Phua was well aware of the bank’s internal workings, including the whereabouts of the safe key and the combination password.

The key was stored in an unlocked desk drawer, shared by him and the bank’s cash officers. To execute his plan, Phua would discreetly disarm the security alarm of the safe and, when the coast was clear, open it using the key and password.

He would then help himself to the contents of the safe, carefully rearming the security alarm before leaving the bank.

He would then convert the money into casino chips or deposit it into his POSB bank account for his personal expenses as well as to use it for forex trading.

He had used more than $1.3 million of the stolen money to convert into casino chips, returning part of his winnings from gambling back to the safe and keeping the remaining amount for himself.

Phua’s meticulous approach was designed to avoid detection. He ensured that the cash he took was returned to the safe before the start of the next business day, meticulously maintaining the cash records to avoid suspicion.

The Unraveling

However, Phua’s luck eventually ran out on June 11, 2021. On this ill-fated day, he took a staggering $404,000 from the safe and lost the entire sum at the Marina Bay Sands casino. Facing the harsh reality of his actions, he turned to his fiancée for guidance.

In a bid to make amends, Phua confessed to his wrongdoing and received $404,000 in cash from his fiancée to put back inside the safe.

He then confessed to his crimes to the bank’s branch manager after asking one of the cash officers to help him replace the amount.

Following his conviction, Phua has since made full restitution to Maybank. He is also no longer an employee of the bank and is currently working for another company.

Manna Pot Catering Pte Ltd fined $8,000 for multiple food safety lapses

Manna Pot Catering Pte Ltd was fined $8,000 by the Court today for multiple food safety lapses committed under the Sale of Food (Non-Retail Food Business) Regulations.

2 In May 2022, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) received reports of gastroenteritis involving 21 persons after consuming food prepared by the food establishment located at 1550 Bedok North Avenue 4 #04-16, Bedok Food City, Singapore 489950. None of them were hospitalised.

3 MOH and SFA conducted a joint investigation at their premises and found multiple food safety lapses such as poor housekeeping, poor refuse management and dirty kitchen exhaust hood.

Left: Poor refuse management
Right: Dirty kitchen exhaust (Photos by: SFA)

4 Food safety is a joint responsibility as food can be contaminated anywhere along the food chain. While SFA continues to be vigilant and works to ensure that regulatory measures are in place and properly enforced, the industry and consumers must also play their part.

5 Food establishments should ensure their premises are clean and wellmaintained, as well as adhere to proper food hygiene and food safety requirements. SFA will take enforcement action against food operators who do not adhere to food safety regulations. Offenders are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $100 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.

6 Members of the public who come across poor hygiene practices in food establishments are advised not to patronise them and provide feedback via our online feedback form (www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback) with details for our follow-up investigations.

Issued by the Singapore Food Agency
27 September 2023

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Ten persons were reported to have developed gastroenteritis symptoms after consuming food prepared by The Line Restaurant located at Shangri-La Hotel (22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350) on 26 December 2022. Two of them were hospitalised.

In the world of aviation, where the skies are often considered a male-dominated domain, a remarkable woman has shattered the glass ceiling.

Meet Farhain Abu Bakar, a 36-year-old trailblazer who had previously risen to become Singapore’s first Malay female commercial pilot, according to The Straits Times.

She had recently achieved the prestigious rank of Captain.

A Milestone Achievement

Farhain’s promotion to the rank of Captain is a monumental achievement, not only for her but for the entire aviation sector in Singapore. In an industry where female pilots make up less than 1% of the workforce, her ascent to this position is nothing short of extraordinary.

The news of Farhain’s promotion was met with jubilation, and her family proudly shared their congratulations on social media. A heartwarming picture of the 36-year-old pilot holding a balloon with the message “AYE! AYE! CAPTAIN Farhain!” captured the essence of the moment.

However, the most conspicuous symbol of her promotion can be found on her uniform – the four golden stripes on her epaulettes, a clear indicator of her new rank.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emilia Abu Bakar (@aqmaq)

A History of Breaking Barriers

Farhain Abu Bakar’s journey to the pinnacle of her career has been marked by a series of groundbreaking accomplishments.

In 2016, she first made headlines when she became Singapore’s first local Malay female commercial pilot, a remarkable feat she achieved at the tender age of 29.

Her passion for aviation was ignited during her school years. She earned her private pilot license from the Singapore Youth Flying Club in 2004 while pursuing her education at Singapore Polytechnic.

Her determination and dedication to her dream led her to the Singapore Flying College, where she obtained her commercial pilot license in 2008 and instructor certification in 2010.

Before joining her current position, Farhain had spent about 5.5 years as a flight instructor.

Images source: @aqmaq on Instagram and