M'sian man, 56, arrested at Tuas Checkpoint with nearly S$400,000 cash he got as loan shark assistant

A 56-year-old Malaysian man was arrested at Tuas Checkpoint in May 2025 for attempting to enter Singapore with S$398,775 and RM1,621 (S$491.65) in cash.

The total sum was slightly more than S$399,266.

The money was proceeds from his work assisting with unlicensed moneylending and illegal 4D and horse-betting activities in Malaysia, according to charge sheets.

The man, Diong Gin Ing, was involved in such work for six years, 8world reported.

Investigations revealed that he brought the cash with him while crossing the border as he had planned to use it to gamble at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) casino.

He was charged for acquiring, possessing, and using benefits from criminal conduct, and for moving cash exceeding the S$20,000 limit without making the proper declaration.

On Mar. 26, he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to jail for 10 months and three days.

Made false claims about the cash

According to court documents cited by 8world, Diong exchanged his cash for Singapore dollars through an illegal money changer before crossing the border.

He reportedly submitted a declaration about the cash he was carrying and declared it as S$400,000, which was more than what he had with him.

Initially, he claimed that he wanted to use the cash to start a fishball business, but later admitted it was for gambling.

The prosecution called for him to be jailed 13 to 15 months for the charge related to benefits from criminal conduct, and another two to three weeks for that of inaccurately declaring the cash.

However, the judge said that although Diong engaged in illegal activities in Malaysia and lied, there was no evidence showing that he planned to use the money for illegal activities in Singapore.

Despite over-declaring and not accurately declaring the exact amount he was carrying, he was jailed three days, which the judge called a mnior offence, according to 8world.

Top images from Pohboon Yeo/Google Maps and Canva