Lee Fung owner alleges US$56 million theft by Singapore-based family office staff

[SINGAPORE] An ultra-high net worth Chinese businessman is suing four former staff in Singapore for allegedly misappropriating US$56 million, underscoring the vulnerabilities of certain family office structures. 

Zhong Renhai, the owner of Lee Fung International (LFI) and family office Panda Enterprise in Singapore, accused four former employees of creating fraudulent transactions and fabricating documents to misuse funds, according to a high court document. 

A judge upheld a worldwide order to freeze the assets of the employees, who were based in Singapore, along with a British Virgin Islands entity controlled by them. 

The Chinese businessman discovered that the staff allegedly misappropriated the money from LFI and his family office in December 2023, which led to the removal of the four by January last year. External forensic accountants later found that S$74 million had been allegedly paid out from Zhong’s accounts. Nikkei reported the court case earlier.

Family offices are gaining traction globally, yet many lack the same level of checks and balances practiced at banks. The city-state stepped up scrutiny of financial institutions after a multi-billion dollar money laundering scandal. 

Singapore has been seeking to become a top wealth hub, attracting more than 2,000 single family offices as of the end of 2024. BLOOMBERG