Three men, aged 31, 37 and 63, have each been charged in the State Courts with one count of conspiracy to obstruct the course of justice under Section 204A read with Section 109 of the Penal Code (“PC”) on 26 October 2021.
The three men had allegedly intended to obstruct the course of justice by contacting various persons, to offer Ng Yu Zhi (“Ng”), a director of Envy Asset Management Pte Ltd (“EAM”) and a former director of Envy Global Trading Pte Ltd (“EGT”) a way to leave Singapore unlawfully in breach of his bail conditions. They had allegedly done so knowing that Ng was under police investigations and had already been charged for criminal offences in the State Courts. Ng is facing charges for cheating and other offences, in relation to an investment scheme marketed by EAM and EGT that had raised more than S$1 billion from investors.
The alleged plans were uncovered by the Police during a separate investigation into remote gambling offences involving two of the accused persons. In the course of the remote gambling investigation, Police uncovered information that the 37-year-old man and 63-year-old man were planning to offer to help Ng escape from Singapore and were making enquiries of Ng’s interest to do so as well. The Police took immediate steps to prevent the offence and arrested the 31-year-old man who was allegedly involved as well. The trio have been charged for an offence under Section 204A read with Section 109 of the PC, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term of up to seven years, a fine, or both.
In addition to the Penal Code charge, the 37-year-old man and the 63-year-old man have each been charged with two offences under the Remote Gambling Act (“RGA”), for providing unlawful remote gambling service for another under Section 9(1)(e), and for unlawful remote gambling under Section 8(1) of the RGA. The 37-year-old man already faces an existing charge under Section 9(1)(e) of the RGA, and thus faces three charges in total under the RGA. If convicted for an offence under Section 8(1) of the RGA, the two men would each face imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not exceeding S$5,000, or both. If convicted for an offence under Section 9(1)(e) of the RGA, the two men would face imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of not less than S$20,000 and not more than S$200,000, or both.
The Police take a firm stance against persons involved in or attempting to obstruct the course of justice. Tough enforcement action will be taken against persons who break the law and they will be prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
26 October 2021 @ 3:00 PM