Tradenation luxury goods scam: Couple charged, husband says ‘our mistake’ to flee Singapore

The couple at the center of an alleged multi-million-dollar luxury goods scam were charged in court on Friday (Aug 12), a day after they were handed over to Singapore police following their arrest in Malaysia.

Singaporean Pi Jiapeng, 26, and his wife, 27-year-old Thai national Siriwipa Pansuk, had been on the run for five weeks.

They each face three charges, of which two are for conspiracy to cheat.

Pi and Pansuk are accused of cheating customers of Tradenation between May 28, 2021 and Jun 27 this year by deceiving them into paying for luxury watches that they did not intend to deliver.

They are also accused of cheating customers of Tradeluxury into buying luxury handbags between Jan 15 and Jun 27.

The remaining charge is for illegally leaving Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint on Jul 4.

The pair appeared in a district court via video link from remand. Pi was dressed in a green shirt, while Pansuk wore a black dress.

When the judge asked if they had anything to say, Pi said it was “not right” for them to have fled the country.

“It’s due to the pressure that we face during that point of time. Me and my wife are facing a lot of death threats and pressure,” he said.

“It is our mistake to take that decision and we are really very sorry about the trouble.”

He added that they would “do our best” to work with the police in their investigations.

Through a Thai interpreter, Pansuk said: “I know that I have done something wrong. I will cooperate with the police officers for the investigation.”

Deputy Public Prosecutor David Koh described the two cheating charges as “holding charges”, adding that investigations were still at an early stage.

This is because the couple absconded, and because time was needed to investigate the more than 180 police reports made, he said.

The judge granted the prosecution’s request for the pair not to be offered bail as they were “proven” flight risks, and to be remanded for further investigations.

They will return to court next week. Pi and Pansuk are both currently unrepresented.

At least three scam victims turned up at the State Courts to attend the hearing.

One victim said it was a “relief” that the couple has been charged, but another said there is still the question of where their money is. Both men did not want to be identified.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES