Man jailed for helping Cambodia scam syndicate cheat Singapore victims of nearly S$656,800

If the person they called believed them, they were to transfer the call to another line where someone else would speak to the caller. If the person got scammed and transferred money to the syndicate, Firdaus and Chris Jerome would get a cut depending on who made the first call.

Firdaus observed there were about 60 people in the office, including women who carried out internet love scams. 

AT LEAST 14 VICTIMS

Firdaus called and scammed people for about a month. He was later hospitalised and the scam syndicate paid for his medical fees. After he was discharged, he decided to return to Singapore alone.

While in Singapore, Jackson told Firdaus to feed him information about the Singapore Police Force and/or Monetary Authority of Singapore, asking for pictures and details on their activities which were publicly available online.

Firdaus knew Jackson wanted this information to use them in the scams and helped him out.

On Apr 19, 2025, Jackson asked Firdaus to help him collect money packages and hand them off to an another person. 

Firdaus, who was told he would be paid for his assistance, knew that the money were benefits from criminal conduct and that Jackson was still based in Cambodia with transnational criminal syndicates and committing cheating offences, court documents read.

But Firdaus did not ask further and accepted Jackson’s offer. Between Apr 19, 2025 and May 5, 2025, Firdaus collected S$656,788 from at least 14 victims at various locations from malls to HBD blocks.

He received at least S$1,000 for doing so.

MEDICAL CONDITION

Firdaus was represented by Mr Tham Kok Leong and Mr Chua Jun Qian from Tactica Law. 

Mr Chua told the court on Friday that his client suffered a “life-changing cardiac condition” earlier this year. “These are not minor ailments that can simply be treated with panadol,” he said, asking that the court accord mitigating weight to his client’s ill health.

While the submitted medical reports noted it was unlikely that there would be a disproportionate effect on Firdaus’ health if he served a prolonged jail sentence, the defence lawyer said there was a risk that something might happen to his client.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Xavier Tan agreed with Mr Chua about the risks but told the court that Firdaus’ ailments did not rise to the level which warranted judicial mercy or constituted a mitigating factor.

He sought 67 to 75 months’ jail for Firdaus, with an additional 237 to 267 days’ imprisonment. 

In sentencing, District Judge Ng Cheng Thiam touched on the sentencing discount he had considered. According to plead-guilty guidelines, a 30 per cent “discount” is imposed on those who indicate they intend to plead guilty early.

Judge Ng said that he initially placed a 25 per cent discount on Firdaus’ sentence but raised it to 30 per cent, in light of the latter’s medical condition. He noted that this did not apply to the additional sentencing.

For being part of an organised criminal group, Firdaus could have been fined up to S$100,000, or jailed up to five years, or both.

For assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, he could have been fined up to  S$500,000 or jailed up to 10 years, or both.