Three Men Accused of Fraud in Nvidia Chip Movement Case
Three men have been accused of fraud in connection with the illegal movement of Nvidia chips to China. The total amount involved in the offenses is estimated to be around US$390 million (S$519 million).
Aaron Woon Guo Jie, 41, and Alan Wei Zhaolun, 48, are accused of being part of a criminal conspiracy to commit fraud on two suppliers of servers, Dell and Super Micro, involving about US$250 million. They are alleged to have made false representations in 2024 that the items would not be transferred to anyone other than the authorized ultimate consignee of end users.
Chinese national Li Ming, 51, is accused of committing fraud on Super Micro and accessing a corporate bank account without authorization to make and receive transfers for his company, Luxuriate Your Life. The amount involved in his alleged offenses is around US$140 million.
The three men were among nine people arrested during raids by the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Customs in February. The arrests followed media reports that intermediaries in Singapore were involved in the illegal movement of Nvidia chips to China, bypassing US export controls.
The three men have been remanded since their charging and appeared in court via video link. The prosecution has offered bail of S$600,000 for Woon, S$800,000 for Wei, and S$1 million for Li. The prosecution has also requested an eight-week adjournment for investigations to be concluded and asked for conditions to be imposed alongside bail, including electronic tagging for Li with exclusion zones in place.
The defense lawyers for Woon and Wei have protested the high bail amounts, arguing that their clients have not previously offended and have roots in Singapore. Li's lawyer did not object to the bail amount or conditions.
The judge has ordered for bail to be offered at the amounts sought by the prosecution but said the defense lawyers could challenge this at a bail review hearing. The three cases have been fixed for next mention on May 2.
15 Comments
Eugene Alta
It's appalling to see individuals betray the trust of their employers for personal gain. Hopefully, this serves as a cautionary tale for others in similar roles. 😥
Katchuka
The actions of Li Ming deserve special condemnation, considering how he exploited his access to confidential company information. He must face strict legal punishment. 🔐
Loubianka
Let this news encourage us to demand greater ethical conduct and transparency across all levels within the business landscape. It's time for accountability and a commitment to fair play within the global marketplace. 🤝
Noir Black
This serves as a call for increased collaboration within the tech industry to implement comprehensive measures that can effectively prevent and detect such fraudulent activities in the future. 🛡️
Rotfront
We should avoid painting everyone with the same brush. This incident does not represent the actions of all individuals within these businesses. Let's wait for the investigations to reveal the extent of their involvement, if any. 🙏
Mariposa
This news reinforces the importance of due diligence and stringent background checks while hiring for critical positions. 🤔
Muchacha
Justice must be served. The accused deserve maximum penalty to set a strong precedent against future offenders. 👊
Bella Ciao
The news about chip shortages has been prevalent lately. Hopefully, this incident leads to improved transparency and stricter regulations within the global chip market for greater stability. 📊
Comandante
I commend the authorities for swift action against individuals involved in illegal activities. Hopefully, this will deter future attempts and uphold ethical business practices. 👮
Africa
While these accusations are alarming, they also provide an opportunity for companies and authorities to learn and evolve their security strategies to safeguard the industry's integrity and future progress. 📈
ZmeeLove
This news reminds us that no industry is immune to fraudulent activity. Businesses need to constantly evolve their security measures to stay one step ahead of devious individuals. 🔑
Habibi
These accusations stain the reputation of Nvidia and the involved companies. Hopefully, they take immediate action to rectify their internal controls and regain public trust. 🙏
Rotfront
Such illegal actions not only impact companies but also undermine public trust in the tech industry. 👎
Leonardo
This news highlights the importance of individual accountability. The accused, regardless of their background, need to face the consequences of their actions. ✊
Bella Ciao
These accusations raise questions about the internal controls and oversight within Nvidia and their supplier companies. A thorough investigation is warranted. 🧐