SINGAPORE - At least $14 million in cash was found in the home of two of the 10 people charged in the billion-dollar money laundering case.
The 10 accused appeared via video link at the State Courts on Wednesday to have their cases heard after they were charged on Aug 16.
On Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Public Prosecutor David Koh said the very large sum of cash was found in the residence that Zhang Ruijin, 44, shared with Lin Baoying, 43.
The Chinese nationals, who are not married to each other, were each charged with one count of forgery after they were arrested at a bungalow at Pearl Island in Sentosa Cove.
DPP Koh said several properties and vehicles under Zhang’s name have been seized, and more time was needed to trace the funds and to investigate the assets.
Documents from at least five financial institutions were pending and at least 17 devices have been seized, the prosecutor added.
Lin, the only woman among the 10 accused, had two cars seized, and five properties issued with prohibition of disposal orders, which mean they can’t be sold. They were all listed under her name.
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On Wednesday morning, DPP Edwin Soh said the total value of the assets seized from her was significant, as they were worth $72 million.
He said they needed to determine the source of funds for these properties and cars, and were waiting for bank documents from five financial institutions regarding accounts Lin’s husband has with the banks.
On Aug 16, the police said Zhang allegedly had a foreign passport believed to be issued by Saint Kitts and Nevis, an island nation in the Caribbean.
Lin was allegedly found with foreign passports believed to be issued by Dominica and Turkey. The police said at the time that they had issued prohibition of disposal orders for nine properties and five vehicles with an estimated value of over $106 million.
When they were charged, Zhang referred to Lin and told the court: “You can separate her crimes from me, we are just lovers... You can bail me out but remand her.”
Earlier on Wednesday morning, DPP Ng Jean Ting told the court there was information the accused being investigated in the case were working in a network.
She said this in arguing against bail for Su Baolin, 41, as there may be a need to interview witnesses who are not among the 10 who have been charged so far.
She said there was a risk of contamination of evidence and collusion if bail was granted.
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Su Baolin, a Cambodian national, was charged with using a forged document. He was arrested at a good class bungalow (GCB) in Nassim Road and was allegedly found with a foreign passport believed to be issued by China.
Items including cash of more than $777,000, 33 luxury bags and watches, and 75 pieces of jewellery were seized. The police froze three related bank accounts with a total balance of more than $2.4 million.
DPP Ng said Su Baolin has a congenital heart condition and was warded at Changi Medical Centre (CMC) from Aug 18 to Aug 20.
His lawyer Sunil Sudheesan requested bail to be granted for him, citing health reasons.
“The last thing we want is the accused person to get a heart attack in CMC while under investigation,” Mr Sudheesan said.
But DPP Ng objected, saying there was nothing to suggest his condition could not be handled while in remand.
She had earlier said the application for remand was needed as more time was required for investigations.
DPP Ng said assets seized from Su Baolin and his wife are in excess of $130 million and documents were pending from nine financial institutions and forensic extraction and review of 10 devices were under way.
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District Judge Terence Tay agreed with the prosecution and denied bail.
He also denied Mr Sudheesan’s request to meet his client before Aug 29 – the date permitted by the prosecution – despite the lawyer’s lengthy submissions on why he should be allowed to do so.
Lawyer Wendell Wong also made similar submissions to meet his client Vang Shuiming, 42, and for his client to get bail, but he, too, had his submissions rejected.
Vang, a Turkish national, who is also known as Wang Shuiming, has been charged with one count of using a forged document.
In Vang’s case, DPP Koh said a number of properties and vehicles have either been seized or issued with prohibition of disposal orders, and there are ongoing checks to determine how they were financed.
Judge Tay denied a request by Mr Wong to meet Vang for 15 minutes, as there would also be time required to bring the accused out from remand, interrupting investigations.
Also appearing in court was Su Baolin’s brother, Su Haijin, 40, a Cypriot national, who has been charged with one count of resisting arrest.
He allegedly committed the offence at a GCB in Ewart Park near Holland Road.
The police said in a statement that during the arrest, officers identified themselves outside his bedroom and ordered him to open the door.
Su Haijin allegedly jumped out of the second-floor balcony and was found hiding in a drain by the police. He fractured his hands and legs due to the jump and was taken conscious to hospital.
On Wednesday, Judge Tay allowed an application for Su Haijin’s lawyer, Mr Julian Tay, to visit him at Changi General Hospital for 15 minutes to discuss the need for surgery in the presence of an investigating officer.
Mr Tay said his client suffered fractures to his heels, femur and wrists.
Su Haijin asked the court if he could make arrangements for the surgeon to operate on him. Judge Tay said this would be done in consultation with his lawyer and the hospital.
Chen Qingyuan, 33, was the first to have his case heard on Wednesday.
DPP Edwin Soh said Chen had three luxury cars seized, and one property was issued with a prohibition of disposal order.
DPP Soh said they were still tracing the source of funds for these assets valued at around $10 million, and the police were waiting for bank documents to be submitted.
Chen was denied a phone call with his wife. DPP Soh said he could be speaking with her about dissipation of assets and external parties may be involved through his wife.
Su Wenqiang, 31, a Cambodian national, was next, and the DPP said two luxury cars worth $600,000 were seized under his wife’s name.
DPP Soh said the Commercial Affairs Department needed to ascertain the source of the funds for these vehicles, and they were waiting for statements from two financial institutions under his wife’s name.
They had also confiscated five mobile phones and two laptops, which are undergoing review.
Su Wenqiang asked for an earlier date for his next court hearing, saying he would try to cooperate with the authorities.
But Judge Tay did not grant this as the prosecution was still gathering evidence.
Wang Dehai, 34, had properties seized in excess of $49 million, and DPP Ng told the court there was a review of 11 seized devices.
The Cypriot national was charged with one count of money laundering and was arrested at his condominium in Paterson Hill near Orchard Road.
On Wednesday, he denied his charges.
He told the court: “I’m being illegally detained. I have been in Singapore for five years and I have not done anything unlawful.”
Judge Tay said he could make his defence at a later stage.
Also appearing in court on Wednesday were Su Jianfeng, 35, and Wang Baosen, 31.
Su Jianfeng, a Vanuatu national, was handed a money-laundering charge after he was arrested in a GCB in Third Avenue at Bukit Timah. About $1.4 million in cash and 18 devices were seized from him.
Chinese national Wang Baosen faces a money-laundering charge. Prohibition disposal orders were issued for a property, and a vehicle under his wife’s name and $100,000 in cash were seized.
All 10 accused will return to court on Aug 30.
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
