Malaysian Suspect Linked to Cambodia Scam Arrested and Sent to Singapore

A 24-year-old Malaysian man believed to be connected to a Phnom Penh-based scam syndicate is set to appear before a Singapore court after being arrested and handed over by Cambodian authorities. The suspect, Bernard Goh Yie Shen, was initially detained by the Cambodian National Police and later deported to Malaysia, before being transferred to the Singapore Police Force on Monday evening, according to reports by The Straits Times.

Goh is suspected of belonging to a group made up of 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians who are wanted for their involvement in scams where callers posed as government officials to deceive victims in Singapore. These cases form part of a long-running investigation into a network that police believe has orchestrated hundreds of fraud attempts across the country.

The arrests come as two Singaporeans, Wayne Soh You Chen, aged 27, and Brian Sie Eng Fa, aged 32, were charged the previous day for acting as scam callers linked to the same criminal group. Both men had been deported from Cambodia and Thailand and were arrested immediately upon returning to Singapore.

Authorities say the syndicate is responsible for at least 438 known scam incidents, with losses amounting to no less than S 41 million or RM125.5 million. The groups operations were disrupted on 9 September during a coordinated effort by the Singapore Police Force and the Cambodian National Police. As part of the continued investigation, Singapore police had earlier issued orders to prevent the disposal of assets and seized items believed to be tied to the criminal network.

Goh is expected to face one charge of facilitating the commission of a serious offence for the benefit of an organised crime group with links to Singapore. The charge was brought under the Organised Crime Act. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of as much as S 100,000, or both.

Singapore authorities expressed their appreciation to both the Cambodian National Police and the Royal Malaysia Police for their cooperation. They stated that collaboration with foreign enforcement partners will continue as part of efforts to pursue suspects involved in scams targeting Singaporeans.

Despite the recent arrests, a total of 31 individuals linked to the syndicate remain at large. Police have urged anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact the Singapore Police Force at the numbers provided for both local and overseas callers. Members of the public may also submit information online. The police emphasised that all information shared will be treated with strict confidentiality.