MPs file 32 questions on money-laundering probe; multi-ministry response to come in October

QUESTIONS about the recent billion-dollar money-laundering probe will be addressed in a ministerial statement in Parliament in October, with multiple ministries involved, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling on Monday (Sep 18). This is in response to the 32 questions filed by Members of Parliament on the topic for Monday’s sitting.

These include whether the government is considering new anti-money laundering initiatives, whether it will step up checks on individuals from high-risk jurisdictions, and the number of suspicious transaction reports filed over the past three years. Questions also called for greater prevention of cross-border organised crimes, and asked whether there are plans to involve non-financial institutions to tighten anti-money laundering controls.

Sun said the Ministry of Home Affairs, together with various other ministries, will respond to the queries “comprehensively” in the October ministerial statement.

MPs had filed various questions on the “most serious if not the worst” money-laundering case in Singapore.

Police have seized assets including cars, luxury bags and cash worth S$1.8 billion, in what was Singapore’s largest anti-money laundering operation in August.

So far, some 105 properties estimated to be worth S$831 million have been issued prohibition of disposal orders. These include seven detached bungalows in Sentosa Cove, 79 condominium units (including 19 units under construction), and 19 commercial or industrial spaces.