(Above: Syrius, described on Assets' website as "a wine boutique with an exclusive member's lounge" and located in the same address as Assets Wine Management, was found closed.)

By Geraldine Yeo and Vivien Chan
Additional reporting by Chai Hung Ying

THEY claim to be experienced financial advisers.

Yet, for all the financial savvy that is expected of their profession, they could lose their six-figure investments with one company.

The two men had pumped in more than $300,000 with Assets Wine Management, which specialises in premium wine investments.

Now, it appears that the married couple who ran the company - Mr Benny Lee Ghim Seng, 38, and Ms Kally Quee Yen Ping, 35 - have become uncontactable.

The New Paper understands that five people have lodged two police reports in the past two weeks. A police spokesman said investigations are ongoing.

According to the company's website, it has "more than 1,000 investors and collectors in the Asia Pacific region". It was setup in 2004.

The New Paper spoke to five local investors who invested between $160,000 and $270,000 since 2005.

Of the group, two have lodged police reports.

Also, out of the group, two said they are financial advisers and one of them was among the two who lodged a police report.

One asked that we do not use his full name and the other asked not to be named at all. Both fear their clients may find out about their predicament.

One of them, Mr Chang, 38, said he had invested $200,000 with Assets since December 2005. In the last nine months alone, he pumped in $100,000.

Mr Chang was looking for investment opportunities five years ago when his friend had told him about Assets.

He said the investment plan appeared simple and sound: Investors would put in money that Assets would use to buy Australian and French wine from overseas.

The wine would then be stored in a Singapore warehouse.

After 18 months, Assets would buy the wine from the investors and re-sell it either locally or overseas.

Mr Chang said they were told they could expect a "projected 8 per cent profit", though it was not guaranteed.