Malaysian linked to Cambodian scam syndicate to be charged in Singapore court

A Malaysian man alleged to be part of a Cambodian-based scam syndicate will be charged in a Singapore court on 18 November, following his deportation from Cambodia and subsequent handover by Malaysian authorities.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced on Monday that 24-year-old Bernard Goh Yie Shen was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) after being deported by the Cambodian National Police (CNP). He was then handed over to SPF for prosecution.

Goh is believed to be associated with a larger organised criminal group, comprising at least 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians. The syndicate has been targeting victims in Singapore through impersonation scams involving fake government officials.

According to SPF, the group is allegedly responsible for at least 438 reported cases involving losses amounting to approximately S$41 million.

Goh will be charged under the Organised Crime Act with one count of facilitating the commission of a serious offence, in furtherance of the illegal purpose of a locally-linked organised crime group. If convicted, he may face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to S$100,000, or both.

The SPF expressed appreciation for the assistance of its counterparts in Cambodia and Malaysia. It added that it would continue collaborating with foreign law enforcement agencies to bring scam syndicate members to justice.

In related developments, two Singaporeans, Wayne Soh You Chen, 27, and Brian Sie Eng Fa, 32, were charged on 17 November for allegedly operating as scam callers within the same syndicate. Soh was deported from Cambodia, while Sie arrived from Thailand.

Another two men, both aged 44, were charged earlier on 13 November for their roles in similar operations. One man, apprehended in Bangkok by the Royal Thai Police, allegedly oversaw administrative functions at a scam centre in Myanmar and relinquished control of his Singapore bank account to enable illegal fund transfers.

The second individual was arrested in Krong Bavet, Cambodia. Investigations revealed he worked as a translator for a telecommunications fraud syndicate and had received scam proceeds into his local bank accounts.

The man connected to the Myanmar scam centre faces charges of abetment to commit unauthorised access to computer material. The man linked to the Cambodian operation has been charged with abetment by conspiracy to cheat and possession of suspected criminal proceeds.

The SPF noted that the syndicate's operations suffered a major disruption on 9 September, following a coordinated cross-border enforcement action conducted jointly with the CNP. Authorities seized assets and issued prohibition of disposal orders as part of the investigations.

Despite these breakthroughs, 31 suspects linked to the syndicate remain at large. The SPF has urged anyone with relevant information to call 1800 255 0000. Overseas callers can contact +65 6255 0000. Information can also be submitted via the SPF's online portal, and all submissions will be kept confidential.

These arrests come as Singapore faces a sharp rise in impersonation scams. According to the SPF, the number of reported cases involving fake government officials surged by 199.2 per cent in the first half of 2025, with 1,762 cases compared to 589 during the same period in 2024.

Financial losses also climbed steeply, reaching S$126.5 million in the first half of 2025, up from S$67.2 million in the corresponding period of 2024.