https://www.hcamag.com/asia/specialisation/employment-law/former-bank-employees-in-singapore-charged-in-money-laundering-scheme/501851

Two former bank relationship managers are facing multiple charges for their involvement with a billion-dollar money laundering operation that converted dirty money into assets held in Singapore, according to reports.

The individuals charged were Wang Qiming, 26, and Liu Kai, 35, both Chinese nationals who previously worked as relationship managers at different banks in Singapore, Channel News Asia reported.

Wang, who formerly worked at Citibank Singapore, faces 10 charges, including forgery, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.

He is accused of holding S$481,678 in laundered cash for Su Baolin, one of the original offenders, and forging multiple documents to facilitate the illegal transfer of nearly S$1 million into various accounts.

According to the CNA's report, Wang allegedly forged two remittance receipts from PT Surya Citra Remitan to cheat Citibank in February 2021. These receipts were used to deceive Citibank Singapore into believing that a deposit of S$999,980 into a Xie Yuyan's bank account was legitimate.

He is also accused of forging another remittance receipt in May 2021, purportedly issued by PT Fajar Sukses Batam, to substantiate a deposit of US$299,980 into the same account.

Further allegations include Wang submitting a forged loan agreement between Xie Yuyan and Chen Huangpei as supporting documentation to Citibank in May 2021.

Additionally, in April 2021, Wang allegedly forged a loan document between Wang Shuiming and Chen Chengbao to deceive the bank into believing that a deposit of nearly S$1 million into his Citibank account was substantiated.

He is also accused of forging a remittance slip from PT Fajar Sukses Batam between June and July 2021 to convince Citibank Singapore that a deposit of S$1,999,980 into Xu Yongkun's Citibank account was legitimate.

Wang also faces charges of conspiring with Su Baolin in December 2020 to forge a borrowing agreement with the intent to deceive Standard Chartered Bank.

He is further accused of deleting the WhatsApp application from his phone in October 2021 to obstruct justice and lying to an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer about losing his passport in November 2021.

Allegations against Liu

Meanwhile, Liu Kai, who was a relationship manager at Bank Julius Baer & Co., also faces charges in connection with the money laundering operation, according to the CNA report.

Liu allegedly assisted one of the bank's clients, Lin Baoying, in submitting a forged Chinese tax document to the bank before November 2020. The document was used to help Lin open an account in Switzerland.

In addition to the two former bank employees, Liew Yik Kit, the personal driver to the fugitive Su Binghai, is also facing charges in his alleged role in the money laundering scheme.

CNA reported that the three men are scheduled to return to court next month. Their charges come after all 10 offenders in the initial money laundering case completed their sentences and were deported.