Five Chinese nationals face fresh charges in Singapore cybercrime syndicate case

Five Chinese nationals accused of being part of a global cybercrime syndicate operating from Singapore were handed fresh charges on 20 May 2025.

The five — Yan Peijian, 39; Huang Qin Zheng, 36; Liu Yuqi, 33; Chen Yiren, 43; and Sun Jiao, 43 — are alleged to have carried out malicious cyber activities from within Singapore, targeting victims overseas.

They were first charged in September 2024 along with Singaporean national Goh Shi Yong and Chinese national Zhang Qingqiao. The cases against Goh and Zhang remain before the courts.

Arrests and seizures

The group was arrested during raids in September 2024 at multiple residences across Singapore. Around 160 officers from the Singapore Police Force and the Internal Security Department took part in the operation.

Authorities seized laptops containing malware-related programmes, mobile phones, and cash. Investigators described the items as tools and proceeds of international cybercrime.

Details of fresh charges

Sun Jiao faces the most serious new charges, including 15 counts under the Computer Misuse Act and one under the Penal Code.

Prosecutors allege he supplied the personal data of 6,800 Vietnamese individuals to two others on 7 September 2024. Between April 2023 and September 2024, he is accused of retaining malware to illegally access computer systems.

Other charges claim he conspired to inject malicious scripts into websites, enabling remote access and control over the targeted domains.

Yan, Huang and Liu are accused of providing false employment information to conceal their activities in Singapore.

Yan allegedly told an inspector in September 2024 that he was employed as a sales representative by a manufacturing firm. Huang claimed on the same day to be working for two firms in process maintenance and construction. Liu is alleged to have made a false work pass renewal declaration in April 2024.

Court documents also state that between September 2022 and September 2024, the three were members of a local organised criminal group formed for financial gain.

Chen faces charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for illegally hiring four women as cleaners without valid passes. He allegedly provided accommodation for Yan, Huang and Liu, and gave false information during a work pass renewal application in April 2024.

Chen also faces charges linked to possession of alcohol believed to be criminally obtained. He held an access card to a storage facility containing the alcohol but failed to account for its origins.

Broader implications

The case highlights the increasing sophistication of organised cybercrime in Singapore and the role of syndicates exploiting the country’s connectivity. Prosecutors allege the network used Singapore as a base for international operations, including hacking, identity theft, and online fraud.

Authorities have not disclosed the full scope of financial losses or overseas victims but confirmed that thousands of individuals had their data compromised.

Court proceedings

All five accused are scheduled to return to court on 21 May 2025 for pre-trial conferences. Further hearings will determine whether the cases proceed to trial or if plea negotiations take place.

If convicted, the men face a range of penalties under Singapore’s Computer Misuse Act, Penal Code, and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, including imprisonment and substantial fines.