S’porean suspected member of Cambodian scam syndicate arrested while hiding in Thai wife’s house

Brian Sie Eng Fa was arrested while hiding in his Thai wife’s house

Singaporean Brian Sie Eng Fa, one of the suspected members of a scam syndicate based in Cambodia, was revealed to have been arrested while hiding in his wife’s house in Thailand.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on 16 Nov that Sie was deported to Singapore that day and charged in court on Monday (17 Nov) for allegedly facilitating the scamming of victims in Singapore.

Source: Singapore Police Force

Singaporean detained for overstaying his Thai visa

Sie, 32, was found hiding at his wife’s home in Khon Kaen, the capital of Khon Kaen province in northeast Thailand, reported the Thai Enquirer.

He was detained by the Anti-Online Scam Operations Centre (ACSC) for overstaying his visa.

ACSC had, in turn, received a tip-off from the SPF, which had issued an Interpol Red Notice for him.

Source: Thai Enquirer

Singaporean admitted to managing finances of syndicate

During questioning, Sie admitted that he managed the syndicate’s finances and was paid about US$4,000 (S$5,200) a month.

He also said he helped impersonate government officials in scam phone calls to Singapore victims, reported Khaosod English.

In his statement, he confirmed that the syndicate had members from both Singapore and Malaysia.

Source: Central Investigation Bureau on Facebook

The suspect was handed over to the Immigration Bureau before being deported to Singapore.

Source: Singapore Police Force

25 Singaporean suspected syndicate members at large

Sie was among 27 Singaporeans suspected of being members of the scam syndicate which operated from a compound in Phnom Penh.

The syndicate is believed to be involved in government official impersonation scams targeting victims in Singapore, with at least 438 reported cases involving at least S$41 million in losses.

SPF said on 29 Oct that it was looking for 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians suspected of being syndicate members.

Since then, two Singaporeans — Sie and Wayne Soh You Chen, 27 — as well as 24-year-old Malaysian Bernard Goh Yie Shen have been nabbed.

25 Singaporean suspects and six Malaysian suspects remain at large.

Also read: 2 S’poreans linked to Cambodia scam syndicate deported to S’pore & arrested, will be charged

2 S’poreans linked to Cambodia scam syndicate deported to S’pore & arrested, will be charged