SINGAPORE: A Malaysian man who started out as a money mule for a syndicate that harvested bank accounts later became a handler involved in the opening of 100 bank accounts in Singapore, through which more than S$4.3 million (US$3.4 million) flowed.

Of this, S$22,230 was traced to reported scam cases.

Besmond Huan Yu Kang, 24, was sentenced on Wednesday (May 6) to seven years and four months' jail and a fine of S$5,400.

He pleaded guilty to eight charges which include cheating, abetting a conspiracy by providing internet banking details to allow unauthorised access to bank accounts, and crimes under the Computer Misuse Act. Another 25 charges were taken into consideration.

In sentencing, the judge said scams are a major and fast-growing concern, noting that Huan worked for a transnational criminal syndicate.

THE CASE

The court heard that Huan was in Malaysia in November 2023 when he came across a Facebook post advertising a high-paying job in Singapore.

He responded to the ad and was introduced to a person known only as "Ah Wei".

Ah Wei was a handler of a syndicate that harvested bank accounts and that recruited Malaysian money mules and guided them to open bank accounts in Singapore for the syndicate's illegal use.

Huan accepted a job opening and surrendering Singapore bank accounts to the syndicate in exchange for RM300 (S$96) per month.

He asked Ah Wei and another person associated with the syndicate if the bank accounts were used for scams, but was told that they were used not for scams but for other undisclosed purposes.

Huan did not probe further and instead accepted the job to earn quick cash.

Under Ah Wei's guidance, Huan applied for a work permit, attended a medical checkup and opened five bank accounts with various banks in Singapore using his work permit card.

He handed the ATM cards, internet banking login details and passwords to Ah Wei, who in turn gave the information to others in the syndicate.

Huan continued working for the syndicate until March 2024, when Ah Wei offered him a job as a handler.

He was to accompany people from Malaysia to Singapore and guide them to open bank accounts using in-principle approvals or work permit cards, which the syndicate would obtain for them.

Huan was also to collect work permit cards or authorisation letters occasionally to facilitate the opening of the bank accounts.

He was also to supply the banking login details t...