Malaysian man alleged mastermind of scam syndicate operating in Singapore arrested
Malaysian man who is alleged mastermind of scam syndicate operating in S’pore arrested straitstimes.com
Source: straitstimes.com · CNA · The Vibes · thevibes.com · September 23, 2026 at 2:32 AM · AI-assisted report
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SINGAPORE, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
The 27‑year‑old Malaysian man identified by police as “Da Xiang” was arrested on 22 September for allegedly masterminding a scam and money‑laundering syndicate that operated in Singapore, the Singapore Police Force said in a statement released the same day.
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The Royal Malaysia Police detained Da Xiang in Malaysia on 22 September and handed him over to Singapore authorities, where he is expected to be charged with criminal conspiracy to assist another to retain benefits from criminal conduct on 23 September.
Police said Da Xiang is alleged to have recruited and coordinated Malaysians to carry out government‑official impersonation scams targeting victims in Singapore. Preliminary investigations found that he met physically with at least four Malaysian “runners” in Malaysia on multiple occasions, assigning them tasks, coordinating ATM withdrawals and disbursing the proceeds from those withdrawals.
Under his instructions, the runners collected gold items from scam victims, brought the valuables back to Johor Bahru and handed them over to Da Xiang.
Authorities estimate that Da Xiang is believed to have laundered at least US$500,000 in proceeds from the scams and related illicit activities. If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine of up to US$500,000, or both.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Wong, who heads the cyber command, said “Scam syndicates know no borders. It is only through close and sustained cooperation with our international partners that we can effectively dismantle these criminal networks.” He added that Singapore police will continue to work closely with the Royal Malaysia Police and other international law‑enforcement partners to bring to justice those who target Singapore, regardless of where they hide.
The police warned that the trend of Malaysians travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash and valuables from victims is increasing. They urged the public to remain vigilant and to avoid trusting unsolicited calls, messages or e‑mails.
The statement clarified that Singapore government officials will never ask individuals to transfer money, cash, jewellery or other valuables to unknown persons over the phone, nor will they request bank login details, instruct the installation of mobile apps from unofficial app stores, or transfer calls to the police.
The Singapore Police Force thanked the Royal Malaysia Police’s commercial crime investigation department for its assistance in the arrest of Da Xiang. The case shows the cross‑border nature of modern fraud operations and the importance of bilateral cooperation in combating financial crime in the region.
Related: Royal Malaysia Police · Da Xiang · Singapore