Unless you have been living under a rock, you would have seen the pictures of Minister Ong Ye Kung and Minister Chee Hong Tat, as well as labour chief Ng Chee Meng, attending dinners with the money launderer, Su Haijin, that went viral right after GE2025.
Singapore tycoon Sam Goi has provided details about private dinners involving Fujian gang member Su Haijin and several Singapore ministers, affirming that all gatherings followed COVID-19 safe-distancing regulations in place at the time.
Singapore Ministers’ Attendance at Dinners with Convicted Money Launderer Explained
Mr Goi, commonly known as the “popiah king” and owner of Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing, issued a statement on 9 May stating that he had reviewed his records regarding the dinners that have recently gained public attention.
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According to Mr Goi, the dinner with Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat took place on 19 Nov 2020, while the gathering with NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng was held on 1 May 2021. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung attended a dinner on 10 May 2022.
Mr Goi stressed that “the group size on each occasion was in full compliance with the applicable COVID safe management measures at the material time.”
For instance, at the time of the dinner with Mr Ng on 1 May 2021, regulations permitted gatherings of up to eight people.
The private dinners were hosted at upscale venues including Tong Le Private Dining in OUE Tower, TungLok Signatures at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, and Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee in Orange Grove Road.
Mr Goi told media outlets that he paid for the meals attended by Su and the ministers. He also added that he hasn’t maintained contact with Su since then.
Ho Ching Defends Dinners While Su’s Money Laundering Conviction Raises Questions
In a Facebook post on 11 May, Ho Ching came forward to defend the ministers’ attendance at the dinners in question.
She pointed out that these weren’t “secret private dinners at home, but meals hosted at reputable restaurants which would have surely made sure that the diners comply with the applicable COVID restrictions.”
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Ho also addressed the timing of one gathering, noting that the 1 May dinner was held on Labour Day, which could explain the dinner invitations “during a quiet May Day” during the pandemic period.
She stated it was “certainly not a nefarious gathering to hatch any plots.”
Regarding Su’s money laundering conviction, Ho wrote: “And if anyone at the dinner, other than Su Haijin himself, had known that Su had been involved in money laundering, they would have surely not invited him, nor attended a dinner involving him.”
Ministers Ong and Chee clarified through their press secretaries on 6 May 2025 that they “do not know Su personally, and do not have any contact with him.”
Their statement added: “As ministers, they meet a diverse range of people at various events and gatherings. They attended the dinners at the invitation of a friend, and Su happened to be there.”
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Mr Ng also issued a statement on 6 May 2025, saying the dinner he attended took place “some time back” and that he had no further interactions with Su after police investigations and criminal charges were brought against him.
He stated that engaging with different companies and private-sector leaders is part of his work as labour chief.
Derek Goh, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive of Serial System, who also attended the 1 May 2021 dinner with at least seven others, including Su, Mr Goi and Mr Ng, told The Straits Times that Mr Goi would “sometimes call us to have dinner and socialise.”
When asked, Mr Goh said he was unaware why Su was at the dinner, describing it as “just a social networking event.” He added, “But if I had known then that Su was in the money laundering line, I would not have gone.”
Su faced 14 charges and was sentenced to 14 months in jail on 4 Apr 2024. The Cypriot national was deported to Cambodia on 28 May 2024 after being in remand since his arrest on 15 Aug 2023.
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He was one of 10 people found guilty in a $3 billion money laundering case, one of Singapore’s largest.
Su was arrested following raids by the police’s Commercial Affairs Department. While trying to escape, he jumped off the balcony of the good-class bungalow he was renting in Ewart Park, Bukit Timah, and fractured his feet and wrist.
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