Singapore Dismantles World's Biggest Money Laundering Case, Assets IDR 43 T Confiscated
Merlion statue in Singapore/Photo: Getty Images/Marcus Lindstrom
HOLIDAY NEWS - The Singaporean government uncovered one of the world's biggest money laundering cases. The assets confiscated in this case reached US$ 2.8 billion or Rp. 43.68 trillion (exchange rate Rp. 15,600).
Quoted from the Straits Times, Thursday (5/10/2023), this case was discovered in 2021 when the authorities noticed the possibility of fake documents being used to ascertain the source of the funds in a Singaporean bank account. So that the suspects would not become suspicious, a small group of police officers was created to investigate this case.
After extensive investigations in 2022, police uncovered a network of people suspected of transferring money to Singapore from abroad, allegedly obtained from criminal activities. Some people are related by family ties.
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The assets confiscated were worth more than US$ 2.8 billion, making it one of the largest money laundering cases in the world.
Second Minister of Home Affairs, Josephine Teo said this when answering 60 parliamentary questions regarding this case. He said authorities were alerted in 2021 when they discovered several signals, including the alleged use of fake documents to support the source of funds in Singapore bank accounts.
Several suspicious transaction reports (STRs) or suspicious transaction reports are submitted by financial institutions and other companies. In early 2022, police launched an extensive intelligence investigation that uncovered a network of people believed to be connected to each other, including family ties.
"The police analyzed the information and investigated further secretly," said Theo.
He said the police aim to develop as complete a picture as possible of the suspects and their associates, their alleged criminal activities and assets, before taking action against them.
"As the investigation progresses, the network discovered by the police is increasing," he said.
"More and more individuals are involved in suspected money laundering operations, and more of their assets held in Singapore are being discovered. The police are painstakingly and secretly tracing their relationships and assets," he continued.
Teo continued, in early 2023, the police consulted with the prosecutor's office, who decided there were sufficient grounds to suspect that a criminal act had been committed in Singapore. After extensively reviewing information and evidence, police launched a massive raid on August 15 involving more than 400 officers led by the Commercial Affairs Department.
A total of nine men and one woman were arrested and the following day charged with offenses including money laundering, forgery and resisting arrest.
In his development, Teo said that the funds most likely came from criminal activities abroad, including illegal online gambling and money lending without permits. He continued, the police had carried out further operations, and the authorities had confiscated assets worth more than US$ 2.8 billion.
The assets include 152 properties and 62 vehicles with an estimated value of more than US$ 1.24 billion, money in bank accounts totaling more than US$ 1.45 billion, and cash in various currencies worth more than US$ 76 million.
Other items include thousands of bottles of liquor and wine, more than US$38 million worth of cryptocurrency, 68 gold bars, 294 luxury bags, 164 branded watches and 546 pieces of jewelry.
Singapura Bongkar Kasus Pencucian Uang Terbesar Dunia, Aset Rp 43 T Disita
Patung merlion di Singapura/Foto: Getty Images/Marcus Lindstrom
HOLIDAY NEWS - Pemerintah Singapura membongkar salah satu kasus pencucian uang terbesar di dunia. Adapun aset yang disita dari kasus ini mencapai US$ 2,8 miliar atau Rp 43,68 triliun (kurs Rp 15.600).
Dikutip dari Straits Times, Kamis (5/10/2023), kasus ini tercium pada 2021 ketika pihak berwenang melihat kemungkinan dokumen palsu yang digunakan untuk meyakinkan sumber dana di rekening bank Singapura. Agar para tersangka tidak curiga, maka dibuat kelompok kecil petugas kepolisian untuk menyelidiki kasus ini.
Setelah penyelidikan ekstensif pada 2022, polisi mengungkap jaringan orang yang diduga mentransfer uang ke Singapura dari luar negeri, yang diduga diperoleh dari kegiatan kriminal. Beberapa orang terikat hubungan keluarga.
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Aset yang disita bernilai lebih dari US$ 2,8 miliar dan menjadikannya sebagai salah satu kasus pencucian uang terbesar di dunia.
Menteri Dalam Negeri Kedua, Josephine Teo menyampaikan hal tersebut saat menjawab 60 pertanyaan parlemen terkait kasus ini. Dia mengatakan, pihak berwenang mendapat peringatan pada 2021 ketika mereka menemukan beberapa sinyal, termasuk dugaan penggunaan dokumen palsu untuk mendukung sumber dana di rekening bank Singapura.
Beberapa suspicious transaction reports (STRs) atau laporan transaksi mencurigakan disampaikan oleh lembaga keuangan dan perusahaan lain. Pada awal 2022, polisi meluncurkan penyelidikan intelijen ekstensif yang mengungkap jaringan orang-orang yang diyakini terhubung satu sama lain, termasuk ikatan keluarga.
"Polisi menganalisis informasi tersebut dan menyelidiki lebih lanjut secara diam-diam," kata Theo.
Dia mengatakan, tujuan polisi untuk mengembangkan gambaran selengkap mungkin tentang para tersangka dan rekan-rekan mereka, dugaan kegiatan kriminal dan aset mereka, sebelum mengambil tindakan terhadap mereka.
"Seiring dengan kemajuan penyelidikan, jaringan yang ditemukan oleh polisi semakin bertambah," katanya. "Semakin banyak individu yang terlibat dalam dugaan operasi pencucian uang, dan semakin banyak aset mereka yang disimpan di Singapura ditemukan. Polisi dengan susah payah dan diam-diam menelusuri hubungan dan aset mereka," sambungnya.
Teo melanjutkan, pada awal 2023, polisi berkonsultasi dengan kejaksaan, yang memutuskan terdapat cukup alasan untuk mencurigai bahwa tindak pidana telah dilakukan di Singapura. Setelah meninjau informasi dan bukti secara ekstensif, polisi melakukan serangan besar-besaran pada tanggal 15 Agustus yang melibatkan lebih dari 400 petugas yang dipimpin oleh Departemen Urusan Komersial.
Sebanyak sembilan pria dan satu wanita ditangkap dan keesokan harinya didakwa melakukan pelanggaran termasuk pencucian uang, pemalsuan dan penolakan penangkapan.
Dalam perkembangannya, Teo mengatakan bahwa dana tersebut kemungkinan besar berasal dari kegiatan kriminal di luar negeri, termasuk perjudian online ilegal dan peminjaman uang tanpa izin. Lanjutnya, polisi telah melakukan operasi lebih lanjut, dan pihak berwenang telah mengambil alih aset senilai lebih dari US$ 2,8 miliar.
Aset tersebut mencakup 152 properti dan 62 kendaraan dengan perkiraan nilai lebih dari US$ 1,24 miliar, uang di rekening bank berjumlah lebih dari US$ 1,45 miliar, dan uang tunai dalam berbagai mata uang senilai lebih dari US$ 76 juta.
Barang lainnya termasuk ribuan botol minuman keras dan anggur, mata uang kripto senilai lebih dari US$ 38 juta, 68 batangan emas, 294 tas mewah, 164 jam tangan bermerek, dan 546 perhiasan.