Crime
12 Malaysians arrested for involvement in “fake friend call scam” syndicate targeting Singaporeans
JOHOR, MALAYSIA — A joint operation between the police force in Singapore and Malaysia has resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals, aged between 16 and 27, for their involvement in a “fake friend call scam” syndicate that targeted Singaporeans.
The syndicate is believed to have conducted over 360 reported cases, resulting in more than S$1.3 million in total losses.
Since January of this year, over 490 victims have fallen prey to similar scams, losing at least S$1.7 million in total.
The scam is operated by having a person calling potential victims to pretend to be their friend and ask for financial assistance.
The police believe that the syndicate started its scam operations in December 2022 and was using Singapore prepaid SIM cards to make calls to unsuspecting victims in Singapore.
Johor police collaborated with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and conducted simultaneous raids at three apartment complexes in Johor, resulting in the arrests.
SPF is also investigating 12 men and two women, some of whom have been arrested, for their suspected involvement in aiding the syndicate.
These individuals are believed to have handed over their personal bank accounts or SingPass accounts.
Investigations against the arrested individuals are ongoing.
If found guilty of facilitating unauthorized access to computer material, they may be imprisoned for up to two years, fined, or both.
Those found guilty of unauthorized disclosure of access codes for wrongful gain or unlawful purposes can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.
Singapore police advise members of the public to be wary of usual financial requests, even if they appear to be from family and friends, and to verify requests through alternative means such as physical meet-ups, video calls, or email.
Victims lost at least S$8.8mil in 2022
According to the statistics of SPF, there had been no report of “fake friend call scams”, but 686 cases were reported in 2021.
This figure then surged by 207 per cent to 2,106 cases in 2022.
The police statistics show that the fake friend call scam was the fifth type of scam of concern in 2022, with victims losing at least S$8.8mil.
In 2021, this was the 10th most common type of scam, with victims losing S$4.5mil that year.
Crime
Singaporean man arrested in Batam for alleged child sexual abuse
A Singaporean man was arrested in Batam, Indonesia, for sexually abusing his 16-year-old stepdaughter. The 50-year-old was apprehended at his residence in Batam on 7 September. Local authorities accused that the perpetrator repeatedly assaulted the victim during his visits to Batam, and the abuse is believed to have lasted for more than two years.
BATAN, INDONESIA:A Singaporean man has been arrested in Batam, Indonesia, on charges of sexually abusing his underage stepdaughter for over two years.
The 50-year-old suspect, identified only as AH, was apprehended at his residence in the Mutiara View housing complex on 7 September.
As per reported by local media, police alleged that AH repeatedly sexually assaulted his 16-year-old stepdaughter, AF, during his frequent visits to Batam.
According to Senior Police Commissioner Heribertus Ompusunggu, chief of the Barelang precinct police, the perpetrator engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim an estimated 120 times during his weekly trips to the Indonesian island.
The alleged abuse began in June 2022, shortly after AF, who used to live with her grandmother in Karawang, West Java, moved to Batam to live with her mother.
One day in July 2022, the girl slept in the same room with AH while her mother was in another room.
The police believed that after AH may have gave AF a drink laced with jasmine flowers, he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
On 7 September, the victim’s mother sought help from a friend to escape the house, unable to endure her husband’s violent behaviour and the sexual abuse of her daughter.
The victim’s mother was afraid to report the abuse due to repeated threats from the alleged perpetrator.
The police have detained AH for further investigation into alleged violations of the 2016 law on child protection.
If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of five to 15 years, with an additional punishment of one-third of the jail term due to his status as the victim’s stepfather.
Crime
Leaders of Japanese syndicate accused of laundering S$628.7M lived in Singapore
Japanese crime syndicate leader Sotaro Ishikawa, linked to a ¥70 billion (S$628.7 million) money-laundering operation, was discovered to have ties to Singapore, including directorships in local firms. Several syndicate members were arrested in Japan and the Philippines, with investigations ongoing across multiple countries.
SINGAPORE: The head of a Japanese criminal syndicate accused of laundering ¥70 billion (S$628.7 million) for organized crime had ties to Singapore, including property ownership and directorships in local firms, The Straits Times reports.
Sotaro Ishikawa (石川宗太郎), 35, fled Japan in February amid police investigations but maintained a condominium in Bukit Timah and was appointed director of the Singaporean software firm, Rivaton, in March.
Ishikawa’s syndicate, Rivaton Group, is believed to have over 40 members and systematically set up shell companies in Japan to launder money linked to scams and illegal gambling.
The Osaka Prefectural Police revealed the group utilized corporate accounts of at least 500 companies and 4,000 bank accounts to process illicit funds.
Both Ishikawa and his second-in-command, Kosuke Yamada (山田耕介), 39, were arrested on 9 July after returning to Japan from Dubai.
Syndicate Leadership Tied to Singapore
Several senior members of the syndicate were also linked to Singapore-based companies.
Yamada, who resided in the same Bukit Timah condominium as Ishikawa, was appointed director of KO Enterprise Next in September 2023.
Takamasa Ikeda (池田隆雅), 38, the group’s third-ranking officer, lived in Novena and was director of local advertising firm Glosal, having been arrested on 2 September after flying from Singapore to Japan.
Japanese authorities issued a wanted notice in August for five senior syndicate members, including Ishikawa, Yamada, and Ikeda.
The other two leaders, Hiroyuki Kawasaki (川崎博之) and Shinya Ito (伊藤真也), were arrested in the Philippines, with plans for their extradition to Japan.
Shell Companies and a Singapore Connection
The syndicate allegedly operated with layers of management, functioning like a legitimate business.
According to the Sankei Shimbun, the group maintained standard office hours, managed by three tiers of staff, and operated with detailed procedures to avoid suspicion.
This included automated systems that transferred funds between accounts based on balance levels or timing.
In Singapore, all of the companies linked to the syndicate were established by a Japanese lawyer and Singapore permanent resident.
He claimed to have conducted thorough due diligence checks on the suspects, including meeting them personally in Japan and verifying their documents.
The lawyer expressed shock upon recognizing one of the men arrested in Japan and subsequently filed a suspicious transaction report with Singaporean authorities.
While cooperating fully with Japanese officials, he stated that he had not been contacted by Singapore authorities regarding the case.
Authorities Continue Investigations
The Rivaton Group allegedly provided money-laundering services to various criminal organizations under the guise of being a payment solutions provider.
A Japanese police official noted the syndicate’s organizational structure, with clear divisions of responsibility in areas such as fund transfers and interaction with financial institutions.
The lawyer responsible for setting up the shell companies emphasized that he had taken extra precautions after Singapore’s S$3 billion money laundering case earlier this year but had found nothing suspicious in his dealings with the syndicate members.
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