SGTwo Indian nationals, Angappan Arivalagan and Durairaj Kulothungan, were sentenced to prison for operating an illegal remittance scheme that siphoned $10.2 million from migrant workers' accounts. The men used stolen ATM cards and PINs to withdraw funds, which they converted into goods like laptops and gold to smuggle out of Singapore to India. Their activities were uncovered in July 2023 after a member of the public reported suspicious transactions. Police later found 51 ATM cards and nearly $75,000 in cash on Durairaj upon his arrest. Both men were convicted under Singapore’s Payment Services Act and Computer Misuse Act. Angappan received a 15-month sentence with a $6,000 fine, while Durairaj got eight months in jail. Prosecutors described the operation as sophisticated and emphasized the need for deterrence against unlicensed financial activities.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual legal case without overt ideological framing. It focuses on the criminal activity and legal consequences without taking sides or promoting specific political agendas. The emphasis is on law enforcement action and regulatory compliance rather than partisan commentary.
