Singapore Jailed 6 Malaysians Who Stole $4M from a High-Stakes Poker Game

Six Malaysian men have been sentenced for robbing several players at a private, high-stakes poker game in Singapore in 2024. The gang stole money and valuables estimated at almost $4 million, making it one of the biggest robberies in Singapore’s history. Singapore Sentenced the Gang Wong Chi Shan, 35, and Goh Boon Tong, 30, were the masterminds of the operation, according to the prosecution. They were joined by Mohd Hamidon Ahmed, 49; Kartik Palaniappan, 34; Mohd Hashim Ismail, 51; and Muhammad Tauffiq Ahmad Fauzi, 34. On Monday, they pleaded guilty to charges including armed gang robbery and the removal of criminal proceeds from Singapore. They were sentenced to between seven years and eight months and 12 years and 11 months in prison. Those under the age of 50 were also ordered to receive 24 strokes of the cane each. Prosecutors said the alleged that the two instigators of the robbery learned about the poker games through an acquaintance who had previously taken part in them. Shortly after 2 am local time on April 18, 2024, the men entered a bungalow in King Albert Park, an affluent area of Bukit Timah. Some of the robbers were armed with machetes and baseball bats. There were 11 people inside the property, including several poker players. The robbers restrained the occupants with tape and cable ties before stealing their phones and other valuables. Later, they searched the devices for cryptocurrency apps and transferred assets from one victim’s account. The gang made off with about $3.9 million in cash, cryptocurrency, luxury watches, and also took the keys to a Ferrari. What Happened Later? After the robbery, the gang fled Singapore through separate border crossings before regrouping in Malaysia. Along the way, they discarded the clothes and weapons they had used during the raid. Once in Malaysia, they converted some of the stolen cryptocurrency into cash and divided the proceeds among themselves. However, they didn’t have much time to enjoy their spoils as they were arrested between April and November 2024 before being brought back to Singapore to face prosecution. A seventh suspect, 33-year-old Malaysian Muhammad Yusuf Kassim, remains at large. Court documents say he is believed to have fled Malaysia and traveled to Thailand. Singaporean authorities recovered about $1.33 million worth of the stolen property, but more than $2.51 million remained unrecovered. Goh also assisted investigators in recovering approximately $629,000 worth of cryptocurrency. In another much larger operation earlier this summer, Singaporean authorities arrested 60 people linked to illegal gambling connected to the FIFA World Cup 2026.