Two men to be charged in Singapore over scam offences after being deported from Thailand and Cambodia
Both men were allegedly involved with transnational scam syndicates and conducted money mule offences.
Two men were arrested on Nov 11, 2025, after being deported from Thailand and Cambodia to Singapore, for their suspected involvement in transnational scam operations and money mule offences. (Photos: Singapore Police Force)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
SINGAPORE: Two men will be charged on Thursday (Nov 13) after being deported from Thailand and Cambodia over scam offences.
The men, both aged 44, are believed to be involved in transnational scam operations and money mule offences, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Thursday.
The first man was arrested by the Royal Thai Police during a raid in Bangkok.
SPF said he was allegedly part of a transnational syndicate, which authorities believe was operating a scam centre in Myanmar.
The centre had purportedly perpetrated government official impersonation scams that targeted Singaporeans.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had travelled to Myanmar and was involved in administrative functions at the scam centre before fleeing to Thailand after the scam centre was raided by Myanmar authorities,” SPF said.
“In addition to the man’s alleged involvement in the overseas scam syndicate, he purportedly relinquished his personal bank account in Singapore, enabling criminal syndicates to move suspicious funds using the account."
The man was deported from Thailand and arrested upon arrival in Singapore on Tuesday.
He will be charged with abetment to commit unauthorised access to computer material. If convicted, he may be jailed for up to two years, fined or both.
The second man was arrested by Cambodian police for his alleged participation in a transnational scam syndicate that conducted telecommunication fraud from Krong Bavet, a city near Cambodia’s border with Vietnam.
Preliminary investigations found that he allegedly served as a translator for the syndicate. His bank accounts in Singapore were also purportedly used to receive illicit funds from scam activities.
He was also arrested upon arrival in Singapore on Tuesday.
The second man will be charged with abetment by conspiracy to cheat and possessing property reasonably suspected to be the benefits of criminal conduct.
The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine or both.
Anyone convicted of possessing property reasonably suspected to be the benefits of criminal conduct can face up to three years’ jail, a fine of up to S$150,000 (US$115,000) or both.
Government official impersonation scam cases almost tripled in the first half of 2025, rising by 199.2 per cent to 1,762 cases, said the police. This was up from 589 cases in the same period last year.
“The amount lost to this scam type increased by 88.3 per cent to about S$126.5 million in the first half of 2025, from about S$67.2 million during the same period in 2024,” said SPF.
Besides taking action against local money mules, SPF said it has worked with its international law enforcement partners to identify, target and disrupt scam centre operators.
“SPF was informed of the successful arrest of the two Singaporean men who were operating scam centres in Southeast Asia through ongoing collaboration and intelligence sharing with international law enforcement partners,” it said.
The cases highlight the evolving tactics of transnational scam syndicates that are engaging Singaporeans, said Commercial Affairs Department director David Chew.
“It also illustrates the strong partnerships with our regional counterparts, including the Central Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police and Cambodia National Police, to identify, pursue and arrest criminals involved in scam operations,” he said.
