Cambodia scam syndicate suspect: S'porean man, 32, hid in Thai wife's house, arrested by Thailand police

A 32-year-old Singaporean man linked to an international scam syndicate based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was arrested in Thailand.

Thailand police arrested the man following a request for assistance from authorities in Singapore, reported Khaosod English.

In an earlier press release on Nov. 16, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said Sie Eng Fa Brian, 32, was arrested by the Royal Thai Police (RTP) during a raid in Khon Kaen.

He was deported to Singapore and arrested on arrival on Nov. 16.

He was later charged in court on Nov. 17 for being a scam caller in a Cambodia-based syndicate targeting and cheating victims in Singapore.

Staying with wife

According to Khaosod, Thailand’s Anti-Cybercrime Scam Centre was alerted by the Singapore authorities that Sie was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice on charges related to organised crime and cross-border fraud.

He was among 34 suspects wanted by the SPF.

Investigators say he had fled to Thailand, where he was hiding at his Thai wife’s residence.

He allegedly admitted to working as the syndicate's financial administrator and helping to impersonate as government officials in phone calls used to scam Singaporean victims into transferring money.

He told police he earned about US$4,000 (S$5,231) a month.

Local authorities charged him with overstaying his visa and he was later deported to Singapore.

Syndicate

Sie is believed to be a member of an organised criminal group based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The criminal group is believed to be responsible for at least 438 reported impersonation scam cases involving losses of at least S$41 million.

As part of ongoing investigations, the Singapore police had earlier issued prohibition of disposal orders and seized assets linked to the criminal group.

Top photos from Khaosod English