Convicted Money Launderer Expelled from Cambodia Following Singapore Deportation
Zhang Ruijin, involved in a massive money laundering case, deported after brief stay in Cambodia.
A 45-year-old man, Zhang Ruijin, has been expelled from Cambodia after being deported from Singapore following his involvement in a significant money laundering case.
Zhang was sentenced to 15 months in prison in Singapore for his role in a scheme that involved billions of dollars, marking one of the largest money laundering cases in the city-state's history.
The Cambodian General Department of Immigration (GDI) announced Zhang's deportation from Cambodia via a Facebook post on July 17. His removal was executed after directives from Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Sokha, to locate and expel him following his arrival in Cambodia on June 15 after deportation from Singapore.
Zhang, a Chinese national, was deported from Singapore alongside six other individuals implicated in the S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) money laundering operation.
He was among ten accused, with the Singapore courts ordering the forfeiture of approximately S$118 million in assets, representing about 90% of his seized assets.
Cambodia, a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), took the expulsion action in line with its commitment to the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) against financial crimes.
Zhang reportedly holds a passport from Saint Kitts and Nevis, an island nation in the Caribbean, though the GDI did not specify his next destination following expulsion.
In Singapore, the case involved ten offenders who forfeited a total of around S$944 million (US$697 million) in assets after being convicted of money laundering activities involving luxury properties, cash, cryptocurrency, and more.
Their sentences ranged from 13 to 17 months.
Investigation efforts are ongoing concerning 17 other suspects linked to this case and not currently residing in Singapore.
The assets associated with these suspects contribute to the remainder of the assets valued at S$3 billion seized in the case.
Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development, Sun Xueling, emphasized that foreigners convicted of crimes in Singapore have the option to choose their deportation destination, subject to admissibility assessments based on their travel documents.
However, this choice is not solely at the discretion of the convict.
The State for Law and Transport, Murali Pillai, noted that post-conviction and sentence completion, deportation is standard procedure unless extradition agreements apply.
Contact has been made with Cambodia's GDI for more information regarding the future location of Zhang and the immigration status of the other deported individuals.
Zhang was sentenced to 15 months in prison in Singapore for his role in a scheme that involved billions of dollars, marking one of the largest money laundering cases in the city-state's history.
The Cambodian General Department of Immigration (GDI) announced Zhang's deportation from Cambodia via a Facebook post on July 17. His removal was executed after directives from Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Sokha, to locate and expel him following his arrival in Cambodia on June 15 after deportation from Singapore.
Zhang, a Chinese national, was deported from Singapore alongside six other individuals implicated in the S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) money laundering operation.
He was among ten accused, with the Singapore courts ordering the forfeiture of approximately S$118 million in assets, representing about 90% of his seized assets.
Cambodia, a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), took the expulsion action in line with its commitment to the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) against financial crimes.
Zhang reportedly holds a passport from Saint Kitts and Nevis, an island nation in the Caribbean, though the GDI did not specify his next destination following expulsion.
In Singapore, the case involved ten offenders who forfeited a total of around S$944 million (US$697 million) in assets after being convicted of money laundering activities involving luxury properties, cash, cryptocurrency, and more.
Their sentences ranged from 13 to 17 months.
Investigation efforts are ongoing concerning 17 other suspects linked to this case and not currently residing in Singapore.
The assets associated with these suspects contribute to the remainder of the assets valued at S$3 billion seized in the case.
Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development, Sun Xueling, emphasized that foreigners convicted of crimes in Singapore have the option to choose their deportation destination, subject to admissibility assessments based on their travel documents.
However, this choice is not solely at the discretion of the convict.
The State for Law and Transport, Murali Pillai, noted that post-conviction and sentence completion, deportation is standard procedure unless extradition agreements apply.
Contact has been made with Cambodia's GDI for more information regarding the future location of Zhang and the immigration status of the other deported individuals.
