Bank Accounts Frozen for Suspected Involvement in Scam Activities

59 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) to date, how many bank accounts suspected of being involved in scam activities have been frozen by the Singapore Police Force; (b) how many of such bank accounts belong to individuals who have only one bank account; (c) of the total number of bank accounts frozen, how many have eventually been found to be involved in scam activities; and (d) whether the Ministry has data on the number of applications to the Courts to access funds in frozen bank accounts for basic expenses.

60 Mr Sharael Taha asked the Minister for Home Affairs with regard to bank accounts that are frozen by the Singapore Police Force for suspected involvement in scam activities, what is the average time taken from the completion of investigation to the eventual unfreezing of the bank account.

Mr Speaker: Minister of State, you can give your reply to both Question Nos 59 and 60.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Ms Sun Xueling) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) only freezes bank accounts when there is reason to suspect that the bank accounts are involved in illicit activities, including scams.

The Member may refer to SPF's annual Scams and Cybercrimes brief published on the SPF's website for the number of bank accounts suspected to be involved in scams which the SPF has frozen each year.

SPF does not track whether the frozen bank account is the owner's only bank account. Persons whose bank accounts are frozen can make an application to the Courts to withdraw money for reasonable living or other legitimate expenses. SPF does not collect information on the number of such applications to the Courts.

SPF would unfreeze frozen bank accounts when they are subsequently found not to be involved in criminal activity and are no longer required for the purposes of investigation, trial or other Court proceedings. SPF does not track the time taken to unfreeze bank accounts after investigations have been completed.

Mr Speaker: Mr Sharael Taha.

Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Mr Speaker, I thank Minister of State Sun for the clarification. For some of those affected, the bank accounts could be their only bank account and investigations may take many months and, in the particular case I have, it has taken more than six months. Would the Ministry consider at least providing the information to the affected individuals that they can apply for exemption or at least the release of some funds so that they can continue with their day-to-day living, please?

Ms Sun Xueling: I thank the Member for his question. As mentioned in my reply, persons whose bank accounts are frozen as a result of being recipients of suspected criminal proceeds can make an application to the Court to withdraw money for reasonable living or other legitimate expenses.

Under section 35(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the account holder can submit an application to the Courts to access their funds for the payment of basic expenses, including any payment for foodstuff, rent, the discharge of a mortgage, medicine, medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums and public utility charges, amongst others. So, if the Member comes across residents who have difficulties in this regard, please ask the member to approach his Investigation Officer and please refer the member to this section of the Criminal Procedure Code so that the member may know how they can go about being able to still have access to funds which they need for their daily living expenses.