2 foreign nationals linked to S$263,000 cheating case let off with stern warnings

Two foreigners accused of working together with other unknown individuals to cheat three victims of almost S$263,000 in total have been let off with stern warnings.

According to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), Chinese national Wang Rui, 34 and Malaysian Sau Young Seng, 38, were granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal.

This means they cannot be charged again with the same offences.

AGC statement

AGC responded to Mothership's queries in a statement: "After carefully considering the facts and circumstances of the matter, the prosecution directed that stern warnings in lieu of prosecution be issued to both Wang and Sau.

"Following the administration of the stern warnings...the prosecution applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal in relation to the charges against them."

AGC did not reveal details about why no prosecution was undertaken.

District Judge Brenda Tan granted the discharge on Sep. 17.

Three charges each

The pair were handed three cheating charges each on Nov. 15, 2024, Straits Times reported.

Wang and Sau were accused of being part of a conspiracy between Jun. and Jul. 2024 that led an alleged victim to believe that an online job opportunity posted via WhatsApp was genuine.

The alleged victim transferred more than S$28,000 in total to the bank accounts of seven other people.

Secondly, the pair were accused of committing a similar offence between Jun. and Aug. 2024.

This alleged victim was deceived into believing that there was a genuine investment opportunity posted via WhatsApp.

This person then transferred almost S$232,000 in total to five different bank accounts.

Wang and Sau were also accused of cheating a third person between July and August 2024.

The alleged victim was deceived into believing that an investment opportunity was genuine. This person then transferred S$2,600 to an online trading platform.

Pair arrested after anti-scam operation

According to ST, police said in a Nov. 2024 statement that officers arrested the pair following an anti-scam operation earlier that month.

The authorities seized more than 6,800 SIM cards, 15 mobile phones and two laptops.

More than S$10,000 in cash was recovered.

For each count of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.

Top photos via SPF