28-year-old sentenced after humiliating acquaintance over mistaken theft in illegal bank scheme
A Singapore man has been jailed after forcing an acquaintance to drink urine in a misguided act of “punishment” over frozen bank account funds tied to an illegal scheme.
Illegal Bank Account Recruitment
Tan Ming Chuan, 28, was sentenced on 6 August to six months’ jail and fined S$300 (about Rp3.9 million) after pleading guilty to criminal intimidation and misusing a computer system. He had recruited a 25-year-old man, identified only as A1, to open and surrender control of a corporate bank account for cash. The scheme was part of a network run by an individual named Derrick, who used such accounts for illegal transactions.
How The Dispute Began
In March 2022, Tan helped A1 register a company and open the account, which later saw more than S$147,000 pass through before being frozen. A1’s father discovered the suspicious activity in April and reported it to police. This froze over S$25,700 (around Rp205 million) in the account. Unaware of the report, Tan and his associate, Cheong Wee Kiat, 26, wrongly assumed A1 had stolen the funds.
Late-Night Confrontation
On 12 September 2022, Tan and Cheong, along with four others, confronted A1 at the void deck of his home. Cheong allegedly punched A1, injuring his eyebrow. A1’s friend later transferred S$800 to the group in an attempt to settle the dispute, but tensions remained high.
The Humiliation
In the early hours of 13 September, Tan, Cheong, and others urinated into a 1.5-litre bottle, ordering A1 to either drink it or fight them. Fearing for his safety, A1 drank about three-quarters of the liquid and poured the rest over his head on their instruction. Tan recorded the act but later deleted the footage.
Court’s Condemnation
The judge described the incident as “utterly deplorable,” stressing that the sentence must reflect public outrage over bullying and humiliation. Prosecutors highlighted that Tan profited from the scheme, spending his commission on alcohol and clubbing, while neither Cheong nor A1 received any promised payment.
Broader Impact And Pending Case
Tan’s bail was set at S$20,000, with his sentence to begin on 1 September. Cheong’s case is still pending. The case has sparked discussions in Singapore about the dangers of illegal financial recruitment schemes and the severe consequences of mob-style punishments. For both Indonesians and Singaporeans, it serves as a stark reminder of the legal and moral fallout of participating in illicit banking activities.
This case underscores how illegal financial schemes can spiral into violence and public humiliation when disputes arise. Beyond the criminal penalties, the incident reveals the risks faced by those drawn into such operations—both as victims and perpetrators—and highlights the importance of legal safeguards and public awareness in preventing similar cases.
Sources: Malay Mail (2025) , AsiaOne (2025)
Keywords: Singapore Crime, Bank Scam, Criminal Intimidation, Public Humiliation, Court Sentencing, Illegal Banking Scheme
