Singapore AI Chip Fraud Case Expands With New Charges
Singapore police have filed additional charges against four individuals accused in an alleged artificial intelligence (AI) chip fraud case, widening an investigation that also now targets four companies. The latest allegations include fraud, money laundering, fraudulent trading and false representation linked to the purchase of servers from Dell, Super Micro Computer and Asus.
Authorities announced on Wednesday that the case centres on claims that the accused falsely represented the intended end-users of servers acquired from the technology manufacturers. Investigators allege that these misrepresentations formed part of a broader scheme involving advanced AI hardware.
Additional Charges Against Four Individuals
Jenny Lim, 51, and Aaron Woon Guo Jie, 41, each received additional charges of fraud and money laundering on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Li Ming, 52, was charged with fraud and fraudulent trading.
In addition, Alan Wei Zhaolun, 50, is scheduled to face further charges of fraud and money laundering on 6 July, according to the police.
Singaporeans Woon and Wei, together with Chinese national Li, were initially charged in February last year with making fraudulent representations to acquire advanced AI chips. Lim was later charged in April this year with conspiring alongside Woon and Wei.
Furthermore, court records show that all four accused are expected to attend a pre-trial conference on Friday. None of them has entered a plea in the case.
Companies Also Face Fraud Allegations
Police said Wei, Lim and Woon were key officers of three companies within the Aperia Group. Meanwhile, Li was identified as the controller of another company, Luxuriate Your Life.
As a result, the four companies have also been charged with fraud by false representation. The allegations relate to the same investigation into the purchase of servers from Dell, Super Micro Computer and Asus.
Assets Seized During Investigation
The investigation has also led to significant asset restrictions. Police said they have seized approximately S$1 million (about $770,000) held in bank accounts under investigation.
In addition, authorities have issued an order preventing the transfer or sale of a Singapore property valued at around S$55 million while the investigation continues.
Earlier, in March last year, Singapore Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said authorities had established that servers connected to the case might contain Nvidia chips.
The investigation comes against the backdrop of wider restrictions on advanced AI chip exports. The United States banned exports of high-end Nvidia chips to China in 2022 over concerns that they could support military applications. However, the United States later approved sales of Nvidia’s second-most powerful H200 chips in January this year, subject to certain conditions.
With inputs from Reuters