Billion-dollar money laundering case: Former bank employees, driver charged with helping culprits
The two former bank relationship managers allegedly helped the money launderers handle dirty money or submit forged bank documents, while the driver allegedly helped dispose of four vehicles belonging to a wanted man.
Wang Qiming (left) and Liew Yik Kit at the State Courts on Aug 15, 2024. (Photos: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)
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SINGAPORE: Two former bank relationship managers and a driver were charged in court on Thursday (Aug 15) over helping the money launderers in the billion-dollar case of dirty money converted to wealth held in Singapore.
This comes after all 10 offenders in the original money laundering case have finished their sentences and been deported to various countries.
The men freshly charged are: Bank relationship managers and Chinese nationals Wang Qiming, 26, and Liu Kai, 35, as well as Singaporean Liew Yik Kit, 41, who was the personal driver to wanted man Su Binghai.
Wang was given 10 charges, including forgery, money laundering and obstructing justice.
He allegedly held S$481,678 in laundered cash for Su Baolin and forged a loan document to cheat the bank he was working for into allowing a deposit of nearly S$1 million into Vang Shuiming’s account.
Wang was represented by lawyers from Anthony Law Corporation, who said they had just been instructed. He is accused of the following:
- In February 2021, forging two remittance receipts by PT Surya Citra Remitan to cheat Citibank Singapore into believing deposits of S$999,980 into the bank account of a Xie Yuyan were substantiated.
- In May 2021, forging a remittance receipt issued by PT Fajar Sukses Batam to substantiate a deposit of US$299,980 into Xie Yuyan's Citibank account
- Around May 4, 2021, submitting a forged loan agreement between Xie Yuyan and Chen Huangpei as supporting documentation to Citibank Singapore
- In April 2021, forging a loan document between Wang Shuiming and Chen Chengbao to deceive Citibank Singapore into believing a deposit of S$999,980 into Wang's Citibank account was substantiated
- Between June and July 2021, forging a remittance slip issued by PT Fajar Sukses Batam so Citibank Singapore would believe a deposit of S$1,999,980 into Xu Yongkun's Citibank account was substantiated.
- Around Aug 23, 2021, submitting a forged remittance receipt by PT Fajar Sukses Batam in relation to a Wang Weilin to Citibank Singapore as supporting documentation
- Around December 2020, conspiring with Su Baolin to commit forgery for cheating, by forging a borrowing agreement between Su Baolin and Se Liang to cheat Standard Chartered Bank
- Possessing S$481,678 in criminal proceeds belonging to Su Baolin around Dec 15, 2020
- Deleting the WhatsApp application from his phone to obstruct justice around Oct 12, 2021
- Lying to an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer that he had lost his passport around Nov 15, 2021
Liu was a relationship manager at Bank Julius Baer & Co, which counted Lin Baoying among its clients.
He allegedly helped her submit a forged Chinese tax document to the bank sometime before Nov 24, 2020, to help Lin open an account in Switzerland.
Liu was represented by Mr Anthony Wong and Mr Julian Tay from Lee & Lee, the same firm that previously represented one of the 10 original convicts, Su Haijin.
THE FUGITIVE'S DRIVER
Liew, the sole Singaporean of the three, was the personal driver to Su Binghai, who is at large and wanted by Singapore police for his alleged role in the money laundering scheme.
Liew was handed a charge each of obstructing justice and lying to the police.
Liew allegedly disposed of Su's four luxury cars at a multi-storey car park near Block 20, Upper Boon Keng Road sometime between Sep 11 and Oct 5 in 2023.
The cars are: A Rolls Royce Phantom, a Rolls Royce Cullinan, a Ferrari F8 Spider and a Ferrari Stradale.
He allegedly lied to a police officer at Cantonment Complex that Su had left no valuables in his possession.
He was unrepresented and said he needed time to consider his options on whether he would be engaging counsel.
The three men will return to court next month.
They face the following penalties if convicted of their various crimes:
- For lying to the police, a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both.
- For obstructing justice, a maximum of seven years' jail, a fine, or both.
- For forging, using a forged document or abetting such an act, a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
- For possessing criminal benefits, up to three years' jail, a fine of up to S$150,000, or both.
