Indian National Sentenced in Singapore for Running Illegal Money Transfer Operation

Singapore Court Delivers Sentence for Money Transfer Crimes

In a recent ruling, a Singaporean court sentenced an Indian citizen to almost 11 months in prison for managing an unauthorized cross-border money transfer operation that handled over SGD 28 million (approximately USD 21 million).

Raju Krishnamoorthi, aged 45, admitted guilt to charges of conspiring to run an unlicensed money transfer service and assisting another individual in submitting a false work pass application, as reported by local media.

The court imposed a sentence of nine months and seven weeks for the two offenses, along with a fine of SGD 60,000.

Court records indicated that Krishnamoorthi operated without a valid work permit from March 2024 to April 2025, engaging in illegal remittance activities in Singapore.

He initiated this illicit venture with an associate named Syed in 2022, conducting operations from a shophouse located on Norris Road in the Little India district, where he was reportedly paid SGD 1,500 monthly.

Syed facilitated communication with migrant workers wishing to send money back to India, directing them to Krishnamoorthi, who collected cash directly.

Some workers even entrusted him with their ATM cards and PINs for safekeeping, instructing him to withdraw funds whenever they needed to send money home.

Following a tip-off, authorities conducted a raid in the Little India area, uncovering Krishnamoorthi's unlicensed money transfer activities.

During the operation, law enforcement seized over SGD 314,000 in cash, 30 ATM cards, a hard disk, two mobile phones, and numerous records of remittance transactions.