S$2.8b money laundering case: Suspect denied bail a 3rd time after judge rules remand period not too long
Photos of cash that was seized by the police on Aug 15, 2023.
SINGAPORE — Returning to court about six weeks after his last bail review, Zhang Ruijin, who is accused of playing a role in a S$2.8 billion money laundering case, has been denied bail for a third time.
The 45-year-old Chinese national faces three counts of forgery and was arrested on Aug 15 alongside co-accused and alleged lover Lin Baoying at a Sentosa Cove bungalow.
A total of 10 people stand accused of playing a role in the money laundering case.
On Monday (Dec 11), Zhang appeared in court through a video-link to again seek bail, this time on the grounds that his period in remand has dragged on for too long.
Zhang initially asked to be released on bail when he was arrested on Aug 16 but was denied.
He applied for a bail review on Oct 18, but this was rejected on the basis of the serious charges against him, the risk of collusion with co-accused persons and that he is a flight risk.
On Nov 20, Zhang attended a hearing to apply for bail but this was adjourned after the prosecution argued that the application was made without notice.
This time, Zhang's lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam applied for bail on the grounds that the period in which Zhang had been held in remand amounts to a change in circumstances.
Mr Thuraisingam argued that at some point in time, it must become too long for an accused person to remain in remand pending investigation.
"It is a change in circumstances because there is a presumption of innocence and the prosecution cannot be allowed to indefinitely say that investigations are ongoing," he said.
Mr Thuraisingam added that the court should now reconsider bail based on the seriousness of the charges Zhang faces and whether he is a flight risk.
He said that the court should give only limited weight to the prosecution's argument that Zhang represents a risk of colluding with other accused persons and the pending investigations.
In response, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Gan Ee Kiat argued that lapse of time alone cannot be a factor and that 1.5 months since the last bail review was not so long as to justify the granting of bail.
He also disagreed with Mr Thuraisingam's point about the risk of collusion having lost its weight, as the entire point in denying bail is that Zhang might tamper with evidence or collude with witnesses.
"It is an important consideration when it comes to his relationship with the other accused persons, of which there is evidence, and the fact that there are several individuals overseas who are helping him manage his wealth and businesses that have yet to be identified," said DPP Gan.
After hearing from both sides, District Judge Brenda Tan declined to grant bail.
She said: "In my view, the fact that he has been in remand for about four months cannot be considered a material change in circumstances and it has only been 1.5 months since the last bail review.
"I say that the time has not come where the length of investigation in this case is so inordinately long that it is prejudicial to the accused."
Zhang is set to return to court via video-link on Jan 12 for a pre-trial conference.
