Ongoing Investigations into Fraud Case Involving Nvidia Chip Movement

SINGAPORE — Investigations into a significant fraud case involving three individuals linked to the illegal movement of Nvidia chips are still in their preliminary stages, according to the prosecution in a court hearing on June 27, 2025. Aaron Woon Guo Jie, 40, Alan Wei Zhaolun, 49, both Singaporeans, and 51-year-old Chinese national Li Ming were first brought to court four months ago, facing allegations related to fraudulent activities amounting to approximately US$390 million (S$519 million).

During the hearing at the State Courts, Deputy Public Prosecutor Phoebe Tan requested an eight-week adjournment to allow police to continue their investigations. "The police have been diligently pursuing leads and gathering evidence since the inception of this case," stated Tan, emphasizing that the investigations remain incomplete.

The court was informed that, since the last hearing on May 2, police had conducted ten follow-up interviews with relevant individuals, including witnesses and the accused. Additionally, the prosecution reached out to several foreign agencies for assistance in gathering material evidence pertinent to the case.

Li Ming's attorney, Andrew Chua, expressed concerns over the necessity of further adjournment, suggesting that a pre-trial conference would be more appropriate. However, Tan argued that advancing to a pre-trial conference would be premature given the volume of ongoing investigations. The police have analyzed only 35 of the 53 electronic devices involved in the case, with forensic data extraction still pending for the remaining devices.

The three defendants face serious charges, including conspiracy to commit fraud against major suppliers such as Dell and Super Micro. Specifically, Woon and Wei are accused of making false representations regarding the intended end-users of server components valued at about US$250 million. Meanwhile, Li is alleged to have defrauded Super Micro by falsely claiming that the end-user would be a company named "Luxuriate Your Life." Moreover, he is suspected of unauthorized access to an OCBC corporate bank account to facilitate financial transactions for this company.

This case is part of a larger investigation, which saw nine individuals arrested during coordinated raids by the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Customs in February 2025. The investigation revealed potential violations of U.S. export controls, as intermediaries in Singapore were allegedly involved in the illegal transfer of Nvidia chips to China.

The District Judge has adjourned the cases of the three men until August 22, 2025, at which point a pre-trial conference is anticipated to be scheduled. The outcome of these proceedings could have significant implications for international trade regulations and the enforcement of export controls, particularly concerning sensitive technology products like those manufactured by Nvidia.

As this case continues to unfold, it sheds light on the increasing scrutiny surrounding the global supply chain for semiconductor technologies and the potential legal ramifications for those involved in circumventing established trade norms. Authorities remain vigilant as they navigate the complexities of international trade law amidst rising geopolitical tensions.