SINGAPORE – Some 150 victims have lost more than $12 million in a DHL phone scam from end-March to June, a district court heard on Thursday (July 28).

Deputy Public Prosecutor Charis Low revealed this when the case of three Malaysians – Hiu Sheng Fatt, 21, Ooi Lun Xiang and Tee Jia Yong, both 22 – came up for mention in court. The trio were first hauled to court on July 16 to face two charges each.

The prosecution have tendered an amended charge against them.

Hiu is alleged to have been concerned in an arrangement to withdraw money from his United Overseas Bank account – sums amounting to $143,800 – which represented an unknown person’s benefits from criminal conduct, having reasonable grounds to believe that by the arrangement, the control by the unknown person of his benefits of criminal conduct was facilitated.

Ooi and Tee are said to have been concerned in the arrangement to withdraw $143,800 from Hiu’s UOB account on July 14, having reasonable grounds to believe that an unknown person had engaged in criminal conduct.

If convicted under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, they could each be fined up to $500,000 and/or jailed for up to 10 years.

DPP Low said the three Malaysians came to Singapore on July 14 to withdraw monies amounting to $143,800 from Hiu’s UOB bank account. These monies came from victims of what is commonly known as the “DHL phone scam”.

That afternoon, sums totalling $121,900 were successfully withdrawn and the prosecution believes that these monies have been transferred out of the country.

She asked that no bail be allowed for Hiu as he is a foreigner and a flight risk.

She told District Judge Christopher Goh that this was a grave offence involving a foreign syndicate. The individuals came to Singapore for the sole purpose of committing the crime.

Between end March and end June this year, police received more than 3,000 calls and reports, of which about 155 victims have lost a total of more than $12 million.

Both Ooi and Tee were remanded for another week for investigation into their roles in the withdrawal of monies from another bank account, related to the DHL phone scam.

The case will be mentioned again on Aug 4.

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This article was first published on July 28, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – Members of California Fitness received e-mails on Thursday (July 28) from liquidators Ferrier Hodgson stating that there are currently no funds available for refunds to members.

They were also sent a Proof of Debt form to file their claims with the liquidators for J.V. Fitness, the parent company of California Fitness.

California Fitness closed down its Republic Plaza branch on July 16, followed by its Novena and Bugis outlets on July 20, leaving members high and dry after having paid upfront thousands in membership fees.

Mr Tim Reid, a partner at Ferrier Hodgson, confirmed that there are no funds available currently to refund members, and said that they are gradually sending out the e-mails to the gym’s 23,000 members.

However, this is prior to the possibility of selling off assets such as the gyms.

An advertisement placed by Ferrier Hodgson was spotted in The Business Times on Wednesday (July 27).

The advertisement stated that the liquidators are seeking expressions of interest from those who wish to purchase the gyms, collectively or individually, as turnkey operations.

The advertisement only mentioned the Raffles Place and Bugis outlets, and lists the facilities and equipment included such as cardio machines, studios, steam rooms and saunas. Registrations of interest have to be lodged with the liquidators by Aug 3.

A hearing before the High Court is set on Aug 12 where the provisional liquidators will report their findings to the High Court and the creditors upon completing their assessment.

This article was first published on July 28, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE – Ikea Singapore is recalling six chocolate products containing hazelnuts and almonds, or both, that may not be suitable for those allergic to them.

In a statement on Thursday (July 28), it said no allergic incident has been reported so far involving the products, named Choklad Lingon and Blabar, Choklad Ljus Utz, Choklad Not Utz, Godis Chokladkrokant, Chokladkrokant Bredbar and Godis Chokladran.

According to the statement, the presence of hazelnut and almond has been “frequently and not only occasionally detected, which underlines that these chocolate products are not suitable for consumption by persons allergic or sensitive to those allergens”. 

As the product labels only state that they ‘may contain’ these allergens, it is “not stating this frequent presence clearly enough,” said Ikea.

It added: “The product information on the product label could possibly be misleading and is therefore not interpreted as compliant with legislation in several markets.

“Based on the high IKEA safety and quality standards we have decided to recall the affected products globally, irrespective of various legislations in our markets.”

Customers may return affected products at the nearest IKEA store for a full refund, with no proof of purchase required.

Just last month, Ikea Singapore similarly recalled chocolates due to insufficient labelling on the packaging advising consumers of the presence of milk and hazelnut.

candicec@sph.com.sg