PROSECUTION OBJECTS

Deputy Public Prosecutor Foo Shi Hao objected to the bail application, saying Mr Kang was attempting to have a “second bite at the cherry” when there were no real new facts.

He said Wang has admitted to working for his cousin’s remote gambling business. The attempted lie that his daughters were not his speaks to Wang’s character and willingness to lie to the authorities, said Mr Foo.

Wang had later clarified with the police that his two daughters were born out of wedlock but were his biological children.

He said the attempts of Wang’s family members to extend their passes in Singapore have all failed – Wang’s mother had attempted to extend her social pass but this was not granted. Her application for another visa to enter Singapore was rejected.

Wang’s brother sought an extension of his social visit pass, but could not get it. Wang’s niece also applied to extend her short-term visit pass, but that was rejected.

Mr Foo said Wang is a foreigner holding Chinese and Vanuatu passports, with no employment in Singapore.

He moved to Singapore in January 2022, and his wife and daughters are also Chinese nationals who recently moved here.

Based on his accounts to the police, Wang has overseas sources of funds, admitting to having received 1 million yuan from his family’s tea plantation business in China in the past.

His father, who is not in Singapore, also has a history of giving him funds of between S$300,000 and S$600,000 each time, said Mr Foo.

According to affidavits by the investigation officer (IO) on Wang’s case, properties worth over S$18 million have been seized or frozen from Wang and his wife.

Other than the cash and car in Wang’s charges, more than S$3.36 million was seized from his wife’s bank accounts, as well as a property valued at more than S$14.7 million.

Wang is believed to be wanted by Chinese authorities for illegal gambling activities. His wife, He Huifang, is also under police investigation.

The IO said that Wang is in Singapore on a dependent pass linked to his wife’s supposed employment here.

Ms He is purportedly an “investment consultant” in the company Hui Xia Technology Investment, but the IO said the company was set up for the main purpose of obtaining an employment pass for Ms He.

Investigations show that Wang’s cousin, Subject Y, is wanted by Singapore police. Property belonging to Subject Y, worth more than S$100 million, has been seized or frozen.

JUDGE’S DECISION

District Judge Terence Tay rejected Wang’s application for bail, saying there was no material change in circumstances to warrant granting it.

He said the submissions on Wang’s family members trying to come to Singapore are not relevant and are highly speculative. 

Their intention to come here is to support Wang as his case is pending, said Judge Tay.

On the point about how the public infrastructure and people of Singapore would stop Wang if he tried to abscond, the judge acknowledged that Singapore has a good police force, public infrastructure and a generally civic-minded populace.

However, he said he was reluctant to take the view that bail should be granted in such a situation, with the expectation that the police force and the “entire population of Singapore” ensure that Wang does not abscond.