Suspected money mule to be charged in court

SINGAPORE - A 23-year-old man who was arrested after being suspected of acting as a money mule in a series of online sales scams will be charged in court on Thursday.

The suspect, who was arrested in the Jurong West area on Oct 26 this year, is suspected to have been recruited as a money mule.

According to a statement from the police, his role was to remit any inflow of funds to an overseas bank account, for which he would earn a percentage of commission from the funds remitted.

Between April and June, police received numerous reports from victims detailing an online scam involving smartphones and tablets PCs being sold at below-market prices which were advertised in various popular websites.

After transferring the money to the bank account provided by online sellers, the buyers would fail to receive the orders.

In some instances, some were cheated into making further payment when the 'sellers' informed them that there was a "mixed-delivery order" where additional goods were delivered or the goods were held at customs and the buyers had to bear the additional costs.

The suspect will be charged in Court on Nov 28 for the offences of Dishonestly Receiving Stolen Property under Section 411(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 and Transferring Benefits of Criminal Conduct under Section 47(1)(b) of the CDSA, Chapter 65A, 2000 Revised Edition, punishable under Section 47(6) of the same Act.

Any person found guilty for the offence of Dishonestly Receiving Stolen Property shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, or with fine, or with both.

Any person found guilty for the offence of Transferring Benefits of Criminal Conduct shall be liable on conviction shall be punished with a fine not exceeding $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to both.

ellenja@sph.com.sg