Director of S’pore-listed firm resigns after US sanction for alleged ties to Cambodian scam empire
The US claims that the revenues generated by Chen Zhi's alleged transnational criminal organisation support his ostensibly legitimate business ventures, such as Prince Bank in Cambodia. PHOTO: AFP
Summary
- Karen Chen Xiuling, an independent director at 17Live, resigned after being added to a US sanctions list due to alleged links to Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi.
- Chen Zhi is accused by US and British authorities of running forced labour scam compounds involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud ("pig butchering").
- 17Live stated Chen was not involved in its business and operations, and the company has no dealings with her or Chen Zhi; 17Live shares fell on the news.
SINGAPORE – An independent director of Singapore-listed 17Live Group has resigned after she was added to a US sanctions list for her alleged links with a Cambodian businessman accused of running a global scam operation involving forced labour.
Ms Karen Chen Xiuling is among three Singaporeans and 17 Singapore-registered entities added to the US Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.
She voluntarily resigned on Oct 15 from her role as an independent director of 17Live, a Taiwanese live-streaming company.
US persons and companies are banned from doing business with anyone on the list, which is regulated and maintained by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the agency responsible for administering and enforcing economic and trade sanctions.
A report by The Business Times on Oct 15 said
Ms Chen and two other Singaporeans were allegedly involved in the business dealings of Chen Zhi, 37, a Cambodian national and founder of Prince Holding Group, one of the country’s largest conglomerates.
He was formally accused on Oct 14 by the US and British authorities of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for directing Prince Group’s operation of forced labour scam compounds across Cambodia.
According to an Oct 14 statement by the US authorities, “individuals held against their will in the compounds engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes, known as ‘pig butchering’ scams, that stole billions of dollars from victims in the US and around the world”.
In an Oct 16 filing on the Singapore Exchange, 17Live’s board of directors said it “has interacted with Ms Chen in her role as independent director”.
But the company noted that “besides providing oversight as a director and member of the board subcommittees, Ms Chen, 43, is not involved in the business and operations of 17Live”. It added that 17Live has never done business with Ms Chen, the company she works in – DW Capital Holdings – or Chen Zhi, founder and shareholder of DW Capital.
DW Capital is an appointed fund manager for single-family offices in Singapore with assets under management of $60 million, according to its website. Ms Chen, an experienced auditor with more than 10 years of experience, is listed as its chief financial officer.
The US authorities claim Ms Chen oversees Prince Holding’s companies in Mauritius, Taiwan and Singapore. The authorities added that she is listed in corporate filings as the ultimate owner of several entities controlled by the group, which share the same Singapore address. According to BT, Ms Chen is a director, company secretary, or both, in all 17 Singapore-registered companies targeted by the sanctions.
Shares of 17Live fell on Oct 16, sliding 1.6 per cent, or 1.5 cents, to 92 cents as at the midday trading break. They ended the trading day at 87 cents, or 6.5 cents lower.
The company listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2023 after it was
acquired by Singapore’s first special purpose acquisition company, Vertex Technology Acquisition Corp, which is backed by Temasek’s subsidiary, Vertex Venture Holdings.
Ms Chen had been an independent director at 17Live since December 2023. The company said in its Oct 16 statement that it has accepted her resignation.
https://www.straitstimes.com/busine...p-quits-after-us-sanction-in-global-scam-bust
