A Malaysian TikTok live streamer acted as a money mule to earn fast cash, crossing the Causeway to Singapore three times to receive a total of S$114,000 (about RM352,200) in cash for a criminal syndicate. Each time, he would look for areas without surveillance cameras to collect money from victims, using a password for verification, and then change his attire before passing the money to another person.
The accused is 31-year-old Zhang Shihao (phonetic translation, Malaysian), who faced a charge under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.
Case details show that at the time of the offense, the accused lived in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and was a TikTok live streamer earning about RM4,000 per month.
In September 2024, the accused was introduced to a money mule job by a friend, "Jeffrey," who asked him to come to Singapore to collect money from others and then transfer the money to another person.
After taking the job, starting from September or October 2024, the accused would travel to Singapore about once or twice a month, until his arrest on July 28, 2025.
Jeffrey or his accomplices would first send a text message to the accused to check if he was available to do the job in Singapore. Once confirmed, they would inform him of the collection location, time, and amount.
After arriving at the meeting spot, the accused would observe the surroundings to ensure there were no CCTV cameras before reporting his location to Jeffrey or his accomplices.
Jeffrey or his accomplices would then send the victim's photo to the accused. Upon meeting the victim, the accused would state a code and show the serial number on a S$2 bill as a "password" to verify identity before collecting the money.
After receiving the money, the accused would change his clothes and then hand the money over to another accomplice.
Between April 4, 2025, and July 28, 2025, the accused collected a total of S$114,000 from three victims in Singapore.
After pleading guilty, the accused was sentenced on Wednesday (March 4) to 22 months' imprisonment and fined S$2,427 (about RM7,498).
According to the Integrated Case Management System (ICMS), the accused did not pay the fine and will serve an additional 10 days in jail instead.
Case details show that at the time of the offense, the accused lived in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and was a TikTok live streamer earning about RM4,000 per month.
In September 2024, the accused was introduced to a money mule job by a friend, "Jeffrey," who asked him to come to Singapore to collect money from others and then transfer the money to another person.
After taking the job, starting from September or October 2024, the accused would travel to Singapore about once or twice a month, until his arrest on July 28, 2025.
Jeffrey or his accomplices would first send a text message to the accused to check if he was available to do the job in Singapore. Once confirmed, they would inform him of the collection location, time, and amount.
After arriving at the meeting spot, the accused would observe the surroundings to ensure there were no CCTV cameras before reporting his location to Jeffrey or his accomplices.
Jeffrey or his accomplices would then send the victim's photo to the accused. Upon meeting the victim, the accused would state a code and show the serial number on a S$2 bill as a "password" to verify identity before collecting the money.
After receiving the money, the accused would change his clothes and then hand the money over to another accomplice.
Between April 4, 2025, and July 28, 2025, the accused collected a total of S$114,000 from three victims in Singapore.
After pleading guilty, the accused was sentenced on Wednesday (March 4) to 22 months' imprisonment and fined S$2,427 (about RM7,498).
According to the Integrated Case Management System (ICMS), the accused did not pay the fine and will serve an additional 10 days in jail instead.