Six persons become first to be charged under Organised Crime Act

Five men and one woman have become the first persons to be charged under the Organised Crime Act. The six were allegedly involved in an organised crime group under the Act, which was passed in August 2015 and took effect in June 2016. They are suspected to have performed various roles within the group, including being syndicate leaders, runners and agents.

Seet Seo Boon, 53, one of the six who were charged in the State Courts on Thursday (16 November), faces 61 charges. Yahoo News Singapore understands that he is one of the alleged syndicate leaders.

Of the other five suspects, See Chye Huat, 51, faces four charges; Seah Ee Lam, 67, faces seven charges; Toh Hee Choye, 62, faces five charges; Lim Poi Hwa, 62, faces three charges; and Or Poh Soon, 55, faces four charges. Seet, See and Seah are also facing additional charges for offences under the Remote Gambling Act. They were charged in court on 29 November 2016.

The six accused were arrested in November 2016 in one of the largest-scale operations conducted by the Singapore Police Force against criminal syndicates, along with 43 others.

Of the 49 arrested, Yahoo News Singapore understands that 48 are Singaporeans, while one is a permanent resident, and that they are part of the same homegrown syndicate. In addition to Seet, See and Seah, eleven others were also charged on 29 November 2016 under the Remote Gambling Act.

The syndicate is said to be extensively involved in criminal activities, such as running illegal gambling facilities and 4D betting services.

Yahoo News Singapore understands that $25.5 million in criminal proceeds were seized during the raids in November, and that Seet owns multiple properties across Singapore, including one HDB unit and four condominium units – two in Citylights, and one each in Urbana and Tropica. The case involving the six will be heard again on 23 November.

Deputy Commisioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) concurrent Director of Criminal Investigation Department, Tan Chye Hee, said, “Police have zero tolerance against Organised Criminal Groups that are involved in serious criminal activities which can pose a serious threat to Singapore’s safety and security.

“This is the inaugural prosecution under the Organised Crime Act and the result of protracted investigations by the Police. The Police will spare no efforts to continue to disrupt and dismantle these Organised Criminal Groups and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains.”