Singaporean man charged with hacking NTUC FairPrice accounts after deportation from Thailand
A 34-year-old Singaporean man has been charged with illegally accessing NTUC FairPrice online accounts after being deported from Thailand, where he had been imprisoned for drug and immigration offences. He allegedly worked with accomplices to make fraudulent purchases worth at least S$25,000.
- Ong Jian Zhen, 34, was charged with illegally accessing NTUC FairPrice accounts between July and November 2022.
- He was deported from Thailand after serving jail time for unrelated offences.
- Police allege fraudulent transactions worth S$25,000 and are investigating at least six accomplices.
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man has been charged with illegally accessing NTUC FairPrice online accounts following his deportation from Thailand.
The 34-year-old, identified as Ong Jian Zhen, appeared in court on 26 August 2025, facing allegations of hacking customer accounts between July and November 2022.
According to the charge sheet, Ong allegedly gained unauthorised access to NTUC FairPrice and Zalora customer accounts to make fraudulent purchases. The total number of compromised accounts was not disclosed.
Police said multiple reports of unauthorised transactions involving both platforms were received during that period, amounting to at least S$25,000 in fraudulent purchases.
Worked with accomplices to make fraudulent purchases
Investigations revealed that Ong allegedly worked with at least six accomplices in carrying out the cybercrime scheme. The exact roles of these individuals are under investigation.
Ong was arrested upon his return to Singapore on 25 August after being deported by Thai authorities. He has since been remanded, and the court has granted permission for him to be taken out of prison for further investigations.
His next court mention has been scheduled for 2 September.
Past offences and skipped court hearings
This is not Ong’s first brush with the law. He was previously charged with cheating in October 2021 but failed to appear for subsequent court hearings.
A warrant of arrest was issued in September 2022 after he skipped bail.
Singapore police later worked with foreign law enforcement counterparts to trace Ong’s movements overseas.
He was eventually arrested in Thailand in October 2022 and sentenced to prison there for drug-related and immigration offences.
Cooperation between Singapore and Thai authorities
Following his release from a Thai prison on 30 July 2025, Ong was placed in an immigration detention centre before being deported to Singapore on 25 August.
The Singapore Police Force said it coordinated with its Thai counterparts through regional law enforcement channels to facilitate Ong’s return.
“The arrest and repatriation of the suspect reflect the close cooperation between Singapore and foreign law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crime,” the police said in a statement.
Possible penalties
If convicted of the hacking-related offences, Ong faces up to two years in prison, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both under the Computer Misuse Act.
The authorities added that investigations are ongoing to identify Ong’s accomplices and to determine the full extent of the data breaches.
NTUC FairPrice said in earlier statements that it has implemented additional security measures, including two-factor authentication and enhanced fraud detection systems, to protect customers’ accounts.
It also reminded members to use strong passwords and avoid reusing login credentials across multiple online platforms.
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