Eminent Frog Porridge owner charged over S$3.8 million tax evasion, laundering

Buntono, 49, who runs Eminent Frog Porridge (also known as Ming Hui Food Porridge), a popular eatery in Geylang, and Eminentseafood, was charged in court on 3 July 2026 with 30 offences relating to income tax evasion, Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion and money laundering.

The charges follow a joint investigation by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) and the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force.

According to a joint news release by IRAS and the Singapore Police Force, Buntono wilfully understated his trade income for Years of Assessment (YAs) 2016 to 2024. This resulted in close to S$2 million in income tax being undercharged.

He is also accused of wilfully perpetuating a fraud by concealing his businesses' liability to register for GST, and of falsely understating his business income in his income tax returns for the same period. This allegedly caused close to S$1.8 million in GST to be undercharged.

A further charge relates to his failure to keep sufficient business records for YAs 2016 to 2024.

On the money laundering front, Buntono faces charges for possessing properties that, in part, represented benefits from his alleged income tax evasion. These include over S$2.4 million in cash, a Lamborghini Aventador and a landed property.

Buntono's case will be mentioned again in court in August.

IRAS said it takes a serious view of tax evasion and will not hesitate to bring offenders to court. Those found guilty may face a penalty of up to four times the amount of tax evaded, alongside possible jail terms.

Separately, IRAS used the case to remind businesses of GST registration obligations. All businesses, including sole proprietors, must monitor their income on a calendar-year basis to determine whether registration is required.

A business whose taxable turnover exceeds S$1 million over the past 12 months must apply for GST registration by 30 January. One that reasonably expects turnover to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months must register within 30 days of that forecast.

Sole proprietors must register once their combined turnover from all sole-proprietorship businesses, together with income from any trade, profession or vocation, exceeds or is expected to exceed S$1 million in the next 12 months.

IRAS noted that businesses which fail to register remain liable for GST on past transactions from the date registration became due, even if the amount was not collected from customers. Failure to register is an offence, carrying penalties of 10 per cent of the GST owed and fines of up to S$10,000.

The authority also reminded taxable persons to keep proper records. Income tax records must be retained for five years from the relevant YA, while GST records must be kept for at least five years from the relevant accounting period. Non-compliance may result in a fine, a jail term, or both.

On the money laundering charges, IRAS and the police pointed to the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, under which concealing, converting, transferring or using benefits derived from criminal conduct is an offence. Conviction carries a fine of up to S$500,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.

IRAS encouraged businesses and individuals to voluntarily disclose past tax mistakes, noting that such disclosures are treated as a mitigating factor. Guidance on voluntary disclosure is available on the IRAS website.

Members of the public may report suspected malpractices via an online form. Informants whose information leads to a recovery of tax that would otherwise have been lost may receive a cash reward of 15 per cent of the tax recovered, capped at S$100,000, at the discretion of the Comptroller. IRAS said informants' identities will be kept strictly confidential.