After more than five weeks on the run, a fugitive couple that is suspected of being involved in a luxury goods scam in which dozens of people lost millions of dollars has been apprehended in Malaysia and handed over to the Singapore Police Force (SPF). The scam allegedly involved the sale of counterfeit designer goods.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced on Thursday (August 11) that it has been collaborating closely with a variety of law enforcement organizations located in other countries in order to facilitate the couple’s safe return to Singapore.
Pi Jiapeng, a Singaporean, and Siriwipa Pansuk, a Thai national, both had arrest warrants issued for them on July 16 for their involvement with the businesses Tradeluxury and Tradenation. Pi Jiapeng was a Singaporean. Siriwipa Pansuk was a Thai national.
On Wednesday, the SPF reported that it had received information from the Royal Thai Police indicating that the two individuals might be located in a hotel in Johor Bahru.
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“The SPF wasted no time in contacting the Royal Malaysia Police in order to get their aid in locating the pair. On Thursday (this past week), the Royal Malaysian Police in Johor Bahru carried out the arrests authorized by the warrant,” it added.
On Thursday, just before six o’clock in the evening, CNA arrived at the Woodlands Checkpoint, and while entering the arrival bus concourse, they noticed two police cars.
Around six o’clock in the evening, the Royal Malaysia Police handed the pair over to the SPF. At approximately 6.20 o’clock in the evening, Pi, who is 26 years old, and Pansuk, who is 27 years old, were brought to police cars.
As they passed by reporters, neither one of them engaged in conversation with the press.
According to the police, the investigations are still going on.
The pair is being investigated for criminal conspiracy to conduct cheating and illegal departure from Singapore. These allegations have been brought against them. On Friday, charges will be brought against them in court.
“The Singapore authorities will do whatever is necessary and permissible under Singapore law to pursue and bring to justice those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of where they might have fled to,” said the police. “The Singapore authorities will do whatever is necessary and permissible under Singapore law to pursue and bring those responsible to justice.”
“We will also not be bashful about taking tough action against those who commit fraud.”
Pi was taken into custody for the first time in June on suspicion of involvement in cheating-related offenses. His passport from Singapore was taken into custody, but he was eventually allowed to go free on bond. Pansuk has also given the law enforcement officials her passport, and she is cooperating with them with their investigations.
Afterwards, it was impossible to get in touch with the pair, and on July 4, they left Singapore through the Tuas Checkpoint. They concealed themselves inside the container compartment of a lorry that was registered in Malaysia.
On July 21, both of them were included on the red notice website maintained by Interpol.
At least 180 complaints have been filed with the local authorities on a scam that involves two businesses called Tradenation and Tradeluxury.
According to CNA’s understanding, as of July 17, victims who filed police investigations had not received goods with a combined value of at least S$20 million, despite the fact that other media sources stated that the entire value of the undelivered luxury watches and bags was S$32 million.
Two of the men who are suspected of assisting the couple in escaping Singapore have indicated that they plan to plead guilty to the charges against them.
At the beginning of this month, citizens of Malaysia named Mohamad Fazli Abdul Rahman, 38, and Mohamed Alias, 40, stood in front of a district court.
It has been alleged that Mohamad Fazli conspired with Mohamed Alias to set up a plan whereby Pansuk and Pi would conceal themselves within the container compartment of a vehicle that was registered to Malaysia.
In addition to this, Mohamed Alias is facing two further counts for allegedly assisting the pair in evading Singapore by driving the lorry through the Tuas Checkpoint on July 4. They are scheduled to appear in court later on this month.
