Two foreign nationals linked to a large-scale cheating case involving nearly S$263,000 have been spared prosecution, after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) decided to issue stern warnings instead of pursuing court charges.
Foreigners discharged after stern warnings
Chinese national Wang Rui, 34, and Malaysian citizen Sau Young Seng, 38, were initially facing three counts of cheating each. However, they were both granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal, meaning they cannot be charged again for the same offences.
The AGC, in response to media queries, explained that the decision was made “after carefully considering the facts and circumstances of the matter”. While no detailed reasons were disclosed, the AGC said stern warnings were formally administered before the application for discharge was made. District Judge Brenda Tan approved the application on 17 September.
Allegations of job and investment scams
Court documents previously revealed that Wang and Sau were accused of conspiring with others between June and August 2024 to deceive multiple victims through online scams circulated via WhatsApp.
One victim was misled into believing that a job posting shared through the messaging app was legitimate, resulting in over S$28,000 being transferred into various bank accounts. Another victim fell prey to a fake investment opportunity, losing almost S$232,000, while a third victim was duped into putting S$2,600 into what was presented as an online trading platform.
The accused were arrested in November 2024 after an anti-scam operation. Police reported then that more than 6,800 SIM cards, 15 phones, two laptops and over S$10,000 in cash were seized.
Cheating charges carry severe penalties
Under Singapore law, each cheating charge can result in up to 10 years’ jail and a fine. While stern warnings do not amount to a criminal conviction, they remain a record of wrongdoing that can be taken into account should the individuals reoffend.
The decision has drawn attention as scams remain one of Singapore’s top crime concerns, with victims here losing millions of dollars annually to fraud syndicates. Authorities continue to urge the public to be vigilant, especially against job offers and investment opportunities circulated via messaging apps.