SINGAPORE — Two Singaporean men, Ong Kwang Wee and Seah Jian Hao, both 44, were charged on Thursday (Nov. 13) after being deported from Thailand and Cambodia for involvement in transnational scam operations, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
Ong was arrested in Bangkok by the Royal Thai Police. Authorities say he allegedly participated in a scam centre in Myanmar that carried out government official impersonation scams targeting Singaporeans. He reportedly handled administrative duties at the centre before fleeing to Thailand after a raid. Ong also allegedly allowed criminal syndicates to use his Singapore bank account to move illicit funds. He faces charges of abetment to commit unauthorized access to computer material, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Seah was arrested by Cambodian police for his role in a telecommunication fraud syndicate operating near the Vietnam border. He allegedly acted as a translator and used his Singapore bank accounts to receive illicit proceeds. Records show Seah received more than S$47,600 (US$36,600) in suspected criminal funds in 2021. He was charged with abetment by conspiracy to cheat and possessing property suspected to be the benefits of criminal conduct. Convictions for these charges carry up to three years in jail, fines, or both.
Government impersonation scams in Singapore nearly tripled in the first half of 2025, rising 199.2% to 1,762 cases, with losses climbing 88.3% to S$126.5 million, SPF noted.
The arrests underscore the importance of international law enforcement cooperation, said SPF, highlighting successful collaboration with Thai and Cambodian authorities to disrupt these syndicates. Commercial Affairs Department director David Chew emphasized that the cases reflect the evolving tactics of transnational scam operations targeting Singaporeans.
