A former Singaporean lawyer, 55-year-old David Khong, who misappropriated $88,000 meant for clients, fled Singapore in 2007 and was on the run for 15 years and even had an INTERPOL Red Notice issued against him.
He was arrested last year with the help from the Singapore Police Force’s foreign counterparts in China and returned to Singapore on 23 September 2022.
He was convicted in court yesterday (28 March) and sentenced to 36 months imprisonment.
Singapore Police Force’s statement
FORMER LAWYER CONVICTED FOR CRIMINAL BREACH OF TRUST AFTER BEING WANTED FOR 15 YEARS
On 28 March 2023, Khong Siak Meng David (“David Khong”), a 55-year-old Singapore citizen who was wanted for 15 years, was convicted of criminal breach of trust in the way of his business as an attorney. He was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.
David Khong left Singapore in August 2007, before investigations commenced against him for suspected criminal breach of trust. A Warrant of Arrest and an INTERPOL Red Notice were subsequently issued against him in connection with the investigations. With the cooperation and assistance of our foreign counterparts in China, David Khong returned to Singapore on 23 September 2022, and was arrested by the Commercial Affairs Department on the same day.
At the material time, David Khong was a practising lawyer and was the sole proprietor of a law firm, David Khong & Associates. On 11 June 2007, David Khong deposited a cheque of $88,000 into the office account of David Khong & Associates. The cheque of $88,000 was entrusted to him in his capacity as a lawyer, and the sum of money was meant to be paid to his clients upon the completion of the sale of his clients’ properties. However, between 11 June 2007 and 25 June 2007, David Khong dishonestly misappropriated the sum of money amounting to $88,000.
David Khong pleaded guilty to one count of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code. Two other similar charges of criminal breach of trust were taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 March 2023 @ 3:45 PM