S'porean man, 26, banned from conducting charity fundraising due to multiple regulation breaches

A 26-year-old Singaporean man has been banned from fundraising activities after being found to have breached multiple regulations.

According to a joint statement by the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, Eugene Liow Chia Hau has been barred from conducting any fundraising appeal for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes effective June 10.

The Commissioner of Charities received feedback between July 2023 and January 2024 about the fundraising appeals conducted by the now-defunct Direct Hope on behalf of Bilby Community Development Limited, a charity.

Investigations

MSF investigations revealed that Liow, the sole proprietor of Direct Hope and the key administrator of the fundraising appeals, had breached multiple regulations under the Charities (Fundraising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012.

Liow had failed to place adequate control measures and safeguards to ensure proper accountability concerning collecting donations and preventing them from theft or loss.

He also did not maintain proper accounting records of the fundraising appeals or a list of personal particulars of Direct Hope's collectors.

"In view of these serious lapses, the Commissioner of Charities has decided to prohibit Liow from conducting any further fundraising appeals with effect from Jun. 10, 2025."

A quick check showed that Direct Hope's website has been taken down.

Its Facebook page is still public, while the organisation's Instagram page has been made private.

MSF and MCCY advise the public to exercise discernment when approached by individuals or organisations conducting fundraising activities.

Members of the public are also advised not to feel pressured to donate immediately.

Top photos via Direct Hope/Facebook