White Collar Crime Law Firm

 

White-collar crime, such as money-laundering, corruption, cybercrime, data theft, insider trading, fraud and embezzlement,can lead to hefty financial penalties and severe reputational damage for the affected businesses. White-collar crime is an increasingly complex and sensitive area, which requires dedicated subject matter expertise and experience. Thus businesses today can no longer afford to ignore the guidance of a law firm experienced in this field.

At Oon & Bazul, our White-Collar Crime Practice consists of a team of subject-matter experts with extensive relevant experience, including previous work experience with government prosecutors. This gives us a competitive edge as we are better placed to anticipate the prosecution’s case strategies and arguments. Our lawyers regularly act and advise on complex Singapore and cross-border white-collar criminal and financial fraud matters. We strive to ensure that our clients receive fair and proper representation should they be investigated by the authorities or are accused of committing white-collar crimes.

Services In White Collar Crime Law

We can provide pragmatic and timely legal advice to business corporations and individuals for various white-collar crime matters including:

  • Anti-money laundering and reporting obligations under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 (“CDSA”) and directions issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”)
  • Bribery and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1960 (PCA)
  • Computer misuse and other electronic crimes under the Computer Misuse Act 1993 and Cybersecurity Act 2018
  • Breaches of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012
  • Corporate governance, disclosure obligations and offences under the Banking Act 1970, Insurance Act 1966, and Companies Act 1967
  • Fraud, cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust
  • Ponzi schemes
  • Tax evasion
  • Missing Trader Fraud / Carousel Fraud schemes
  • Market manipulation, insider trading and other securities-related criminal matters under the Securities and Futures Act 2001, and the SGX Listing Rules and Regulations
  • Extradition and other forms of international legal assistance for cross-border criminal matters

In respect of the abovementioned white-collar crime matters, our lawyers can conduct internal investigations for our clients, or represent clients involved in external investigations conducted by enforcement agencies. In addition, our lawyers can also advise either clients who are victims of white-collar crimes on seeking redress from the appropriate authorities, or clients who intend to make whistleblower reports regarding white-collar crimes.

Where necessary, we can quickly mobilise and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams involving accountants, forensic experts, private investigators, overseas lawyers, public relations and media consultants, to comprehensively deal with all aspects of complex white-collar criminal matters. We assist both business corporations and individuals in managing their exposure to potential legal penalties.

Expertise of Oon & Bazul in White Collar Crime Law and Investigations

White-collar crime law is a highly technical area of law that requires deep subject matter expertise and experience, and in this field, Oon & Bazul stands out as a trusted and knowledgeable law firm. We specialise in white-collar crime law and investigations, and we strive to ensure that clients receive top-notch guidance from legal experts who are not only well-versed with the intricacies concerning this complex area of law but also able to formulate a pragmatic strategic approach to every case.

Our team of lawyers have strong qualifications and extensive experience in white-collar crime cases. Having gained valuable insights from handling a variety of such white-collar crime cases, our attorneys possess a commendable track record of achieving positive results in these complicated and high-signature white-collar crime cases.

Tackling White Collar Crime Complications

Oon & Bazul is committed to offering fair and proper representation for clients facing white-collar crime allegations. Our aim is to defend clients vigorously, ensuring that their legal rights are upheld throughout the legal process. As a dedicated law firm, we pride ourselves on providing comprehensive legal advice and dedicated support to our clients who have to navigate the intricacies of the justice system in Singapore, which for the uninitiated, can sometimes be a very stressful process.

Given the cross-border nature of many white-collar crimes, Oon & Bazul also collaborates with overseas lawyers, ensuring a coordinated approach that extends to jurisdictions beyond Singapore. This is especially crucial for investigations work involving cross-border white-collar crimes. We also understand the importance of managing public narratives around white-collar crime cases. Hence, we work closely with public relations and media consultants to ensure accurate and balanced reporting of white-collar criminal cases.

Singapore’s anti-money laundering laws and regulations can be found in both the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 (CDSA), as well as the directions issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). These anti-money laundering laws and regulations aim to crack down on the movement of the ill-gotten gains of criminal activities, by ensuring that businesses do not inadvertently become complicit in the laundering of “dirty money”.

Singapore’s Prevention of Corruption Act 1960 (PCA) is the primary anti-corruption legislation in Singapore which aims to robustly combat bribery and corruption, both in Singapore and abroad. With the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) enforcing Singapore’s anti-corruption laws zealously, business corporations and individuals must ensure that they comply rigorously with Singapore’s anti-corruption laws and regulations.

Both market manipulation and insider trading are serious securities-related offences which are penalised under Singapore’s Securities and Futures Act 2001 (SFA) and its related regulations. These laws and regulations aim to preserve the integrity of the financial markets, ensure a fair playing field for the market participants, and maintain public confidence in the financial system.

In many jurisdictions, including Singapore, tax evasion is a criminal offence which attracts severe penal consequences. Penalties can range from substantial imprisonment terms to hefty fines. Moreover, business corporations and individuals, if found guilty of the tax evasion charges, may suffer severe hits to their reputation and business standing.

Given these risks, seeking the expertise of a reputable tax law firm is crucial. Our tax law firm can offer effective legal representation to clients who are embroiled in tax investigations or criminal tax litigation cases, and provide comprehensive and dedicated legal support throughout the entire legal process.

In the digital age, cybercrime has become a pressing concern for both business corporations and individuals alike. Singapore addresses these cybercrime threats through its Computer Misuse Act 1993 (CMA) and Cybersecurity Act 2018, which laws and regulations aim to target offences such as internet hacking, website defacements, or the introduction of malicious software (e.g., ransomware).

In this Information Age, data has become so valuable as it has been described as the “new oil” of the digital economy today. Data breaches can thus lead to severe consequences for the affected business or individual. Singapore has introduced the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA), which not only requires organisations to manage personal data responsibly but also places stringent requirements for the collection, usage, and disclosure of personal data.

Fraudsters and criminal syndicates are increasingly becoming more sophisticated in their criminal ways, as evident from the complex fraud enterprises which they create. Examples of such complex fraud schemes include Ponzi schemes (i.e., a type of investment scam which preys on unsuspecting investors) and Missing Trader Fraud schemes (i.e., a type of complex fraudulent scheme used by criminal syndicates to defraud government authorities and which poses a grave threat to public revenue collection).

As criminal syndicates become more imaginative and sophisticated in their criminal ways, it will not be at all surprising if new types of fraudulent schemes emerge. Thus, the guidance of lawyers experienced in the areas of white-collar crime and investigations, will be especially critical for businesses which aim to avoid being ensnared by fraudsters and their constantly evolving fraudulent schemes.

Perry Elizabeth Wong, Partner | Oon & Bazul

PERRY ELIZABETH WONG

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Contact information

Tel: +65 9780 0565

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: Perry Wong