CAO Louis Tey shares insights into what it takes to tackle white-collar crimes and one of the largest money laundering cases in Singapore till date.
By: Al Cheng
In an era where financial crimes are increasingly sophisticated, investigating white-collar offences can be extremely challenging, but our officers remain undaunted. In August 2023, the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and other units in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) undertook one of Singapore’s largest anti-money laundering operations, with more than 400 officers conducting simultaneous raids island-wide and arresting 10 foreign nationals.
In the course of these investigations, over $3 billion in assets were seized or issued with prohibition orders. All 10 suspects were convicted and over $944 million in assets were forfeited to the State.
Commercial Affairs Officer (CAO) Louis Tey shares about his work as a Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) and how he helped to take down this money laundering operation!
Bring us through your journey in the SPF.
In 2018, I did an internship with the CAD’s Anti-Money Laundering Policy Branch while pursuing my degree. One of my tasks involved conducting a cross-jurisdictional review of how Singapore can enhance its money-laundering laws. That is when I found public service to be deeply meaningful because it has the potential to positively impact the lives of Singaporeans.
After completing my studies, I did a short stint as a civil and commercial litigator. As a lawyer, I was exposed to many exciting cases involving misrepresentation, breach of trust and breach of director’s duties.
These experiences shaped my motivation to join the SPF and I joined in 2021. I’ve been with CAD’s Financial Investigation Division since. I enjoy the intellectual rigour of putting complex cases together for prosecution while also knowing that my work benefits society at large.
What are some unique elements of working in the FID?
As an SIO, I investigate money laundering offences, which involves seizing properties that represent the suspect’s proceeds of crime. Such properties are typically high in value and can range from liquor worth over $10,000 to million-dollar watches.
The FID also investigates misconduct perpetrated by employees of financial institutions. This work has given me keen insight into the various ways such employees can commit fraud, which motivates me to formulate better strategies to investigate such cases.
What’s the most rewarding part about your work?
Evidence is hardly ever served on a silver platter for us. To build a case against suspects, I often need to source for evidence from a range of sources. This can involve sieving through high volumes of data extracted from computers and phones; scrutinising the metadata of each document to ascertain when it was created; and piecing together exchanges by multiple suspects. This is a time-consuming process that requires focus and great attention to detail.
The most rewarding part comes when I can put together disparate pieces of evidence and build a coherent case with which to confront an uncooperative suspect. In addition to our work being inherently intellectually stimulating, it’s satisfying when a suspect faces the consequences of their crimes.
What’s the most memorable case you’ve worked on?
On 15 August 2023, the SPF conducted its largest money laundering operation to-date. I was one of the IOs who took part in the raid that saw the arrest of 10 suspects and the seizure of more than $3 billion in assets. One of the things that struck me was seeing large amounts of cash stashed in a safe, which is unusual given the prevalence of cashless payments nowadays.
This operation requires much work to piece together different aspects of the case and build a picture of the links between the various suspects. In June 2024, the last of the suspects was sentenced. All 10 pled guilty and received between 13 to 17 months’ jail.
What does it take to become an IO?
There are two essential traits. The first is inquisitiveness. As IOs, we need to make inquiries into the activities of subjects and keep ourselves abreast of evolving crime trends. This helps us to be adaptable so that we know what “weapons” are in our arsenal when it comes to investigating novel cases.
The second trait is perseverance. White-collar crime investigation is complex, time-consuming and document-intensive. Subjects are also becoming increasingly sophisticated. Therefore, it requires grit to sift through many pieces of evidence and interview subjects. It’s not uncommon for investigations to take more than a year before a subject is charged.
What advice do you have for those interested in becoming an IO?
Stay curious, be passionate about learning and be audacious!
Kickstart your SPF journey today and step up to a career that goes beyond! Visit our website to find out more.
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