International cooperation vital when crooks play ‘Catch Me If You Can’ across borders: Opinion

In recent years, Singapore has grappled with criminal actors located overseas who have targeted victims in Singapore. These criminal groups know that prosecution of a criminal ecosystem with networks operating in different countries is inherently challenging, as it requires a coordinated multi-jurisdictional response.

The increased use of digital payments and technology across the world has also given transnational criminal groups new tools to obfuscate their tracks. With a swipe on the mobile phone, proceeds of crime can be transferred across different countries at lightning speed and converted into other assets such as miscible fiat currency that cannot be traced back to the victim.

Playing “Catch Me If You Can” with such criminal groups requires an international response at equal speed.

This underlines the importance of fostering and strengthening cooperation between prosecuting authorities. Singapore is committed to working closely with our international counterparts to combat financial crime, including China and South-east Asia.

Between June and July, a joint operation was conducted by the Singapore Police Force and the Royal Malaysia Police to arrest members of an organised criminal group responsible for unlawful remote betting operations. A total of 43 persons were arrested, 39 in Singapore and four in Malaysia. Prohibition of disposal orders for seven properties with an estimated value of more than $10.7 million were issued and cash, jewellery, luxury watches and more than 40 bank accounts with a total estimated value of nearly $4 million were seized for investigations and to prevent dissipation of suspected criminal proceeds.

Singapore has provided assistance to overseas authorities, such as facilitating the return of monies held in Singapore bank accounts that were proceeds of overseas criminal activity, as well as the sharing of intelligence.

A recent successful case is a raid conducted by the Hong Kong authorities in August which was a culmination of investigative efforts between Singapore and Hong Kong. The raid led to the arrest in Hong Kong of a syndicate mastermind and others, as well as the recovery of HK$1.6 million (S$272,000) in criminal proceeds. Singapore also arrested a Singaporean with links to the syndicate.

Singapore has also been the beneficiary of expeditious assistance received from our international counterparts.

In July, a Singaporean firm received a scam e-mail from a fake supplier and transferred US$42.3 million (S$55.9 million) via a bank account in Timor-Leste. The firm discovered the fraud and a police report was filed on July 23. The Singapore Police Force reached out to Interpol and received confirmation the next day that more than US$39 million had been intercepted by the Timor-Leste authorities. The Timor-Leste authorities subsequently arrested several suspects and recovered an additional US$2 million.

Extradition efforts are equally important in combatting cross-border criminal activity.

In April, an American man who had been extradited from the US to Singapore was sentenced to imprisonment of 39 months for a fraudulent forex trading scheme he had perpetrated in Singapore, which involved more than $18 million from over 1,300 victims. These crimes were perpetrated between April 2, 2013, and July 15, 2014. The offender was arrested in Singapore in 2014 and an Interpol red notice issued against him after he jumped bail. He was eventually traced to the US in 2017 and an extradition request was sent to the authorities there in 2020. He was successfully extradited to Singapore and re-arrested here on March 18, 2023.

Criminal groups increasingly have their long tentacles in many countries. The above examples emphasise the criticality of fostering relationships between prosecuting authorities, in order for timely and coordinated action to be taken to counter criminal activity.

On Oct 29, Singapore will be hosting the China-Asean Prosecutors-General Conference (CAPGC), marking the 20th anniversary since the launch of this important initiative. CAPGC is a multilateral mechanism for international prosecutorial cooperation. Since its establishment in 2004, CAPGC has become a forum for leaders to discuss, formulate and coordinate policies to address and combat transnational crime across China and South-east Asia, in response to the new developments in the economic and social landscape.

It is through the continued affirmation and commitment towards mutual assistance, information-sharing and collaboration that we will progress in our common fight against transnational crime.

Lucien Wong is Singapore’s Attorney-General.

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