SINGAPORE – The couple allegedly involved in the luxury goods scam, involving undelivered items worth $32 million, have been arrested in Malaysia and are back in Singapore.
The Singapore Police Force said Pi Jiapeng, 26, and Thai national Pansuk Siriwipa, 27, returned to Singapore on Thursday (Aug 11) and will face charges of criminal conspiracy to commit cheating and illegal departure from Singapore.
“The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has been working closely with various foreign law enforcement agencies to secure the couple’s return to Singapore. A Warrant of Arrest was issued against the couple on July 16,” said the police.
SPF said they received information on Wednesday (Aug 10) from the Royal Thai Police the couple may be putting up at a hotel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
“The SPF immediately sought the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police to locate the couple. The Warrant of Arrest was executed by the Royal Malaysia Police in Johor Bahru on Aug 11,” said SPF.
The couple will be charged in court on Friday. Investigations are ongoing.
“The Singapore authorities will do whatever is necessary and permissible under Singapore law to pursue and bring to justice those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of where they might have fled to. We will also not hesitate to take firm action against fraudsters,” said SPF.
The authorities said last month the couple had fled Singapore in a container compartment of a lorry on July 4.
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The police had earlier said Pi Jiapeng had been arrested on June 27 for his suspected involvement in cheating offences. His passport had been impounded and he was released on bail the next day.
His wife, Pansuk Siriwipa, was not arrested then but was assisting with police investigations. She had surrendered her passport on June 30.
The couple then became uncontactable and fled Singapore on July 4.
The police had said last month at least 180 reports have been lodged since June against the couple. Their victims claimed they had made advance payments for luxury watches or luxury bags to the couple, who failed to deliver them.
The Straits Times spoke to 15 victims in July, many of whom said they were regular customers of the couple’s two businesses, Tradenation and Tradeluxury.
The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) said last month that Tradenation was registered as a precious stones and precious metals dealer on April 2.
Registered dealers are regulated by the Registrar of Regulated Dealers only for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism purposes, said the MinLaw spokesman.
He added that at the point of registration, there were no grounds to refuse it.
MinLaw said it had suspended Tradenation’s registration due to the ongoing police investigations.
Items customers had paid for but did not get include Rolex and Patek Philippe watches and Hermes bags.
Some of the watches the victims ordered from the couple. PHOTOS: The Straits Times reader
One victim said he paid the couple $280,000 for a Patek Philippe watch and two Rolex watches. He said he was willing to fork out such a large sum of money without viewing the goods as he trusted them and had successful purchases with them previously.
ST reported last month that Siriwipa had allegedly conducted a similar ruse in Thailand and was investigated by Thai authorities in 2019.
Timeline of events
Drama in the Lion City: From Tik-Tok Dates to a Lip‑Syncing Escape
That was a whirlwind—a story that mixed romance, opulence, and a dash of detective work. Here’s the skinny, one crisp, light‑hearted take on what went down.
2019‑2020: The Love (and Lottery) Begins
- Dec 2019. Pi swiped right on Tinder, matched with Siriwipa, and within a week she squashed his uh‑mumble: “I owe Dad and the casino. Let’s sort it.”
- Aug 2020. Pi and Siriwipa moved into a swanky condo in Bukit Timah, sharing a roof with his mother.
- Sept 2020. Yeah, they actually tied the knot—no fairy‑tale music, just a quick hug and a ring.
2021: Business, Bizz, and “Hangover” (we’re not sure how)
- Apr 2021. They birthed two brands: Tradenation and Tradeluxury, promising “luxury goods” with the same spark as a new‑phone launch.
- Oct 2021. The couple swapped the condo for a landed house near Holland Grove—because why not live like a millionaires’ dream?
- Apr 2, 2022. Tradenation got the official nod from the Ministry of Law. No red flags at sign‑up time.
2022: The Hiccup Turns Into a Full‑Blown Scandal
- June 1. Customers started whining: “Where’s my bling? Show me the receipts!”
- June 11. Pi and Siriwipa tossed together a Telegram group for the gram‑hungry crowd—a fresh “slap‑chat” solution.
- June 27. Chaos exploded. Pi got hauled into a police station; Siriwipa got the call‑out for a manifest treasure‑hunt that turned out to be: more than 180 complaints! $32 million worth of luxury lost.
- June 28. Pi got bail.
- June 30. Siriwipa’s passport turned into a pawn—it got impounded by the cops.
July: From “Oops” to “Off‑The‑Map!”
- July 4. The pair booted Singapore for Malaysia in a lorry owned by a Malaysian—think “night‑time taxi” meets “black‑mail.”
- July 15. Meet Mohamed Alias, a 40‑year‑old Malaysian turned logistics buddy. He’s now indicted for “helping the escape” after driving them past the Tuas checkpoint.
- July 19. Singapore’s police said: “We’ve got your warrants ready. There’s an Interpol red notice out now.”
- July 22. Mohamed Alias stepped up again, allegedly lining up the escape route for Pi.
- July 29. Another Malaysian (38), caught in the same web, says he was the mastermind behind the escape. He’s now behind bars.
Bottom line. What started as a Tinder romance has turned into a multi‑million-dollar, multi‑country saga that feels like a bling‑packed mystery movie—only the cast is real and the stakes are higher than the price of a private jet.
So next time you swipe right, double‑check that nobody’s planning a getaway in a lorry!
