SINGAPORE: A man believed to be responsible for laundering criminal proceeds linked to scams involving S$3.7 million across more than 50 victims was charged in court on Friday (Nov 18).
Muhammad Tarmidzi Tahir, 33, was handed over to the Singapore Police Force on Thursday after being arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police earlier this month.
Tarmidzi, a Singaporean, was given five charges for offences like opening bank accounts for criminal use, giving away his Internet banking login details and handing over control of the bank accounts to criminals.
He is accused of opening bank accounts with Commerce International Merchant Bankers Berhad (CIMB) and Standard Chartered and giving control of the accounts to criminals.
According to a police statement, Tarmidzi is linked to a transnational scam syndicate, which was “crippled” after a joint operation conducted by police officers from Malaysia and Singapore.
Since July this year, the two forces had shared critical intelligence and information with each other, based on findings from reported scam cases.
Investigations identified a criminal syndicate’s money-laundering cell operating in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Police raided an apartment complex in Johor on Nov 7 and arrested Tarmidzi for his suspected involvement in managing cross-border money transfers and laundering the criminal proceeds.
The proceeds are linked to investment scams, job scams, fake friend impersonation scams, Government official impersonation scams and…
