Two Malaysian businessmen, Seow Gim Shen, and Kong Chien Hoi, have admitted to their involvement in a conspiracy that relates to purchasing personal data as part of a cybercrime syndicate based in Singapore.
This marks the first guilty pleas associated with the alleged global cybercrime syndicate, which is operated by Chinese criminals out of a rented bungalow in Mount Sinai.
Reportedly, the men were found to have conspired with a Chinese national, Sun Jiao, to acquire personal data for gambling operations. The data, which included information on more than 9,000 individuals, was obtained from Sun, who claimed to possess the personal details of over a million Thai nationals.
Seow and Kong’s connection to the syndicate began with a meeting in 2019, where they were introduced to Sun by an acquaintance known as “Andy.” Sun, who dealt in databases of personal information, offered to supply them with data for online gambling activities, which both businessmen were involved in.
Despite their lack of knowledge regarding Sun’s base of operations in Singapore or the methods used to obtain the data, Seow and Kong still continue to engage with him, negotiating deals for bulk data purchases.
These negotiations then ultimately led to a transaction involving the transfer of USD 20,000 Tether (approximately S$26,200) for a database of over a million individuals.
However, the transaction was unsuccessful as Sun was arrested before the data could be provided. Following his arrest, a crackdown involving the arrest of six individuals associated with the cybercrime syndicate took place in September.
Seow and Kong were apprehended during a visit to Singapore for the Grand Prix.
The court proceedings saw the prosecution seeking a jail term of at least six months for each of the defendants due to the premeditated nature of the offences and their involvement in online gambling activities utilizing the illicitly obtained data.
The defence sought lighter sentences, highlighting the defendants’ lack of direct involvement in online gambling operations and emphasizing the negative repercussions faced by the defendants as a result of their involvement in the cybercrime scheme.
The final sentencing for Seow and Kong is set for next week, pending further developments in the case involving Sun and others connected to the cybercrime syndicate.
