News
3 people & S'pore firm allegedly faked origin of S$1.9 million of goods exported to US
The mattresses were declared as Singapore-made, but were found to have come from China.
August 14, 2026, 06:59 PM
Top image via Singapore Customs
A Singapore-registered company and three individuals have been charged over an alleged scheme to falsely declare the origin of bedding products and other goods exported from Singapore to the United States.
The scheme appears to have been an attempt to get around U.S. import duties.
Healthy Living Biotech (Singapore) Pte Ltd, along with Singapore permanent resident Yin Yuxi, 28, Chinese national Xue Xin, 37, and Singaporean Bernard Koh Wee Yiap, 54, were charged on Aug. 14, according to a Singapore Customs media release.
What the charges are
All four face one or more charges relating to false declarations, false statements and incorrect trade descriptions.
The company, along with Yin and Koh, has also been charged with fraudulently evading Goods and Services Tax (GST) on its imports.
How it came to light
Singapore Customs began investigating in Feb. 2026 after mattresses exported from Singapore to the U.S. were declared as Singapore-origin goods.
Their actual country of origin turned out to be China.
Singapore Customs found the alleged scheme had run from Aug. 2024 to Sep. 2025, involving goods worth about S$1.9 million in total.
Investigators also found an alleged scheme to understate the declared value of the company's imports and fraudulently evade about S$111,000 in GST.
What the penalties are
According to Singapore Customs, making false declarations or statements, including in cargo clearance permits, carries a fine of up to S$10,000, up to two years' jail, or both.
Causing incorrect trade descriptions to be applied to exported goods carries a heavier penalty.
On a first conviction, that is a fine of up to S$100,000 or three times the value of the goods, whichever is higher, up to two years' jail, or both.
The same penalties apply for making a false statement when applying for a Certificate of Origin.
For fraudulent evasion of duty or GST on imported goods, the penalty is a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded, plus up to 12 months' jail.
Court proceedings are ongoing.
