Two 44-year-old Singaporean men were arrested and charged in court on 13 Nov 2025 after being deported from Thailand and Cambodia for their alleged involvement in transnational scam syndicates targeting Singaporeans, according to the Singapore Police Force.
Both suspects, identified as Ong Kwang Wee and Seah Jian Hao, arrived in Singapore on 11 Nov 2025 and were immediately taken into custody by Anti-Scam Command officers.​
Operations in Myanmar and Thailand
Ong was arrested during a raid conducted by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok. He allegedly worked at a scam centre in Myanmar that orchestrated government official impersonation scams before fleeing to Thailand when Myanmar authorities raided the facility.​
Preliminary investigations revealed that Ong handled administrative functions at the Myanmar-based scam centre. He also allegedly allowed an unknown person called “Ah Feng” to access his personal Singapore bank account in April, which was subsequently used by criminal syndicates to move suspicious funds.​
The Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police assisted the Singapore Police Force in facilitating Ong’s deportation. He faces one charge of abetment to commit unauthorised access to computer material, which carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both for a first conviction.​
Translator Role in Cambodia
Seah was arrested by the Cambodia National Police for his alleged participation in a transnational scam syndicate operating from Krong Bavet, a city near Cambodia’s border with Vietnam. Preliminary investigations found that he allegedly served as a translator for the syndicate.​
The General Department of Immigration of Cambodia assisted the Singapore Police Force in deporting Seah back to Singapore. He was charged with abetment by conspiracy to cheat and possessing property reasonably suspected to be benefits from criminal conduct.​
Sentencing and Legal Proceedings
For the charge of cheating, Seah faces an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both. The charge of possessing property reasonably suspected to be benefits from criminal conduct carries a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $150,000, or both.​
Both men appeared in the district court on 13 Nov 2025.​
International Cooperation
Commercial Affairs Department director David Chew noted that these cases demonstrate the evolving tactics of transnational scam syndicates that recruit Singaporeans with local knowledge to target victims from scam centres in various jurisdictions.
The arrests illustrate the partnerships with regional counterparts, including the Central Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police and Cambodia National Police, to identify, pursue and arrest criminals involved in scam operations.​
The Singapore Police Force was informed of the two men’s arrests through ongoing collaboration and intelligence sharing with international law enforcement partners.
On 29 Oct 2025, police issued warrants of arrest against 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians suspected of being involved in a scam ring operating in Cambodia, allegedly involved in 438 scam cases with losses of at least $41 million.​
Police urged the public to always reject requests from others to use their bank accounts or mobile lines.
Those who allow their accounts to be used for criminal activities may be investigated and held accountable as accomplices or money mules. Members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799 for more information on scams.
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