SINGAPORE: Another accused person in Singapore’s largest money-laundering probe has been denied bail again, as the remand period for the 10 accused in the case crossed the three-month mark on Thursday (Nov 16).
The defence for 31-year-old Chinese national Wang Baosen argued that bail ought to be granted to his client, saying that Wang loves his two daughters and will not leave them behind in Singapore and abscond.
Wang is from Fujian, China. He faces two charges: Of possessing criminal proceeds of S$112,000 (US$83,100), 4,600 yuan (S$855) and US$10 from illegal remote gambling offences, and buying a Toyota Alphard Hybrid Elegance car with earnings from gambling offences.
He is one of 10 people charged in a S$2.8 billion money laundering probe, which made headlines in mid-August when police conducted simultaneous raids in upmarket neighbourhoods, with luxury properties, cars, jewellery and other assets seized or frozen.
The bail review hearing on Thursday was Wang’s second attempt to be released on bail. The first hearing in September was fronted by his then-counsel, Mr Adrian Wee, and was dismissed.
On Thursday, his latest lawyer, Mr Favian Kang from Adelphi Law, made a fresh attempt.
He argued that his client was not a flight risk, as his wife and daughters aged three and four were in Singapore and had recently registered for schools here.
WILL NOT LEAVE DAUGHTERS BEHIND
“His testimony on affidavit is that he loves his daughters very much,” said Mr Kang. “They serve as deterrent from absconding. He will not leave his daughters behind.”
He said Wang’s mother also applied to enter Singapore, and his niece applied to study here.
“It does not make sense for his extended family to come here, enrol in schools here, if he has intentions to run away. Likewise it does not make sense for his two young daughters to register for school,” he said.
Mr Kang said his client’s assets had all been seized.
He said that when Wang was first arrested, he “mistakenly informed” the investigation officer “in a moment of panic” that the two daughters are not his biological children.
Mr Kang argued at length on how the case is subjected to “substantial media glare” and public interest.
“If he’s to be released on bail, most likely he is going to be photographed exiting Changi Prison or when he next comes to court,” he said.
“When he goes back to his residence, his neighbours will know. There will be concerned members of public. There will be tip-offs.”
He pointed to the airport police, Special Operations Command police, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, Certis Cisco officers and trained profilers at the airport or land checkpoints.
He asked if it was “realistic” for Wang to just walk across the checkpoints or to abscond with his wife and two young children in tow.
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PROSECUTION OBJECTS
Deputy Public Prosecutor Foo Shi Hao objected to the bail application, saying Mr Kang was attempting to have a “second bite at the cherry” when there were no real new facts.
He said Wang has admitted to working for his cousin’s remote gambling business. The attempted lie that his daughters were not his speaks to Wang’s character and willingness to lie to the authorities, said Mr Foo.
Wang had later clarified with the police that his two daughters were born out of wedlock but were his biological children.
He said the attempts of Wang’s family members to extend their passes in Singapore have all failed – Wang’s mother had attempted to extend her social pass but this was not granted. Her application for another visa to enter Singapore was rejected.
Wang’s brother sought an extension of his social visit pass, but could not get it. Wang’s niece also applied to extend her short-term visit pass, but that was rejected.
Mr Foo said Wang is a foreigner holding Chinese and Vanuatu passports, with no employment in Singapore.
He moved to Singapore in January 2022, and his wife and daughters are also Chinese nationals who recently moved here.
Based on his accounts to the police, Wang has overseas sources of funds, admitting to having received 1 million yuan from his family’s tea plantation business in China in the past.
His father, who is not in Singapore, also has a history of giving him funds of between S$300,000 and S$600,000 each time, said Mr Foo.
According to affidavits by the investigation officer (IO) on Wang’s case, properties worth over S$18 million have been seized or frozen from Wang and his wife.
Other than the cash and car in Wang’s charges, more than S$3.36 million was seized from his wife’s bank accounts, as well as a property valued at more than S$14.7 million.
Wang is believed to be wanted by Chinese authorities for illegal gambling activities. His wife, He Huifang, is also under police investigation.
The IO said that Wang is in Singapore on a dependent pass linked to his wife’s supposed employment here.
Ms He is purportedly an “investment consultant” in the company Hui Xia Technology Investment, but the IO said the company was set up for the main purpose of obtaining an employment pass for Ms He.
Investigations show that Wang’s cousin, Subject Y, is wanted by Singapore police. Property belonging to Subject Y, worth more than S$100 million, has been seized or frozen.
JUDGE’S DECISION
District Judge Terence Tay rejected Wang’s application for bail, saying there was no material change in circumstances to warrant granting it.
He said the submissions on Wang’s family members trying to come to Singapore are not relevant and are highly speculative.Â
Their intention to come here is to support Wang as his case is pending, said Judge Tay.
On the point about how the public infrastructure and people of Singapore would stop Wang if he tried to abscond, the judge acknowledged that Singapore has a good police force, public infrastructure and a generally civic-minded populace.
However, he said he was reluctant to take the view that bail should be granted in such a situation, with the expectation that the police force and the “entire population of Singapore” ensure that Wang does not abscond.