SINGAPORE \u2013 Two men who <\/p>\n worked for a transnational syndicate linked to government official impersonation scams<\/p>\n <\/a>\u00a0have been handed jail sentences for handling the ill-gotten gains. <\/p>\n After withdrawing\u00a0more than $770,000\u00a0in scam benefits from ATMs, Chang Yang, 23, was sentenced to four years and four months\u2019 jail on March 6.<\/p>\n Ivan Thong Yoong Khean, 27, who took out nearly $660,000, was ordered to spend four years behind bars.<\/p>\n Both men are Malaysians.<\/p>\n The scams involved multiple vulnerable and elderly victims, and the two offenders each pleaded guilty in February to one count of engaging in a conspiracy to handle the benefits of other unknown individuals\u2019 criminal conduct involving more than $403,000 in total.<\/p>\n Each man had other charges that were considered during sentencing, including those relating to the remaining amounts.<\/p>\n The men had retained up to $600 each time they withdrew the ill-gotten gains.<\/p>\n The court heard that Chang earned around RM50,000 (S$16,100) in total, while Thong made approximately RM10,000.<\/p>\n In earlier proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Karl Tan said that in September 2023,\u00a0Thong took a loan\u00a0involving an undisclosed amount from an acquaintance as he needed money urgently.<\/p>\n Thong wanted to begin repayments in February 2024 but was unable to do so.<\/p>\n The unnamed acquaintance then suggested a \u201cjob opportunity\u201d to him, which included tasks like withdrawing cash from ATMs in Singapore.<\/p>\n Thong agreed to take on the job, and was added to two group chats on the messaging platform Telegram.<\/p>\n Separately, Chang borrowed around RM100,000 from an unknown person, who said that he could pay off the debt by following instructions in the same group chats.<\/p>\n This individual then added Chang to the group chats in May 2024.<\/p>\n