Six men have pleaded guilty over an extraordinary armed robbery in Singapore in which a masked gang targeted a high-stakes poker game and escaped with around S$4.9 million in cryptocurrency, cash and valuables.
Seven men entered a house in the affluent King Albert Park area shortly before 2:05 a.m. on April 18, 2024. Some carried machetes and baseball bats, while the people inside were tied up as the gang searched the property and transferred cryptocurrency from the victims’ accounts.
The six men pleaded guilty in Singapore on September 14, 2026. A seventh suspect remains at large.
High-Stakes Poker Game Became Target for Robbery
Prosecutors said Wong Chi Shan, 35, and Goh Boon Tong, 30, learned in November 2023 that high-stakes poker games were regularly being held at the property. Someone they knew had previously participated in the games, giving them information about what was taking place inside.
The stakes could reach several hundred thousand dollars, according to evidence presented to the court. Payments from the game were also settled using cryptocurrency, creating an unusually valuable target for anyone who knew how the private game operated.
Wong and Goh subsequently visited the house and noticed another important detail. The gate was left open and the wooden front door remained unlocked while poker was being played.
Around four months later, prosecutors say the pair began planning the robbery.
The case bears similarities to a recent armed robbery at a private poker game in Fargo, North Dakota. In that case, masked robbers allegedly targeted an invite-only game after apparently obtaining information from someone familiar with it.
Gang Prepared Machetes, Bats and Cable Ties
Wong and Goh knew they would need more people to overpower those inside the Singapore property.
Goh approached Mohd Hamidon Ahmed, 49, who had experience providing private security and also operated security and debt collection services. Prosecutors said Hamidon was offered RM1.5 million, around S$467,000, to recruit a group that could intimidate and restrain the victims.
Hamidon then recruited Kartik Palaniappan, 34, Mohd Hashim Ismail, 51, and Muhammad Tauffiq Ahmad Fauzi, 34. The group prepared black clothing, ski masks, gloves, duct tape and cable ties ahead of the robbery.
An earlier attempt was abandoned on April 15 because the full team was not ready despite a poker game taking place.
Two nights later, Wong and Goh confirmed that another game was underway. The group entered Singapore from Malaysia before meeting at a car park, where they were shown photographs of the house and briefed on how to get inside.
Three of the men were equipped with machetes and two others carried baseball bats.
Players Tied Up While Crypto Was Transferred
The seven men entered through the unlocked gate and main door while the poker game was still being played.
There were 11 people inside the property, including the woman hosting the game, her husband, players, a Korean card dealer and a masseuse hired to work during the session. The players included Singaporean, Indonesian and Chinese nationals.
One victim was confronted after leaving a toilet near the entrance. A machete was pointed at him before his mouth, wrists and ankles were taped.
The gang then moved into the main room and ordered everyone to raise their hands and place their phones on a table. The victims were restrained while the robbers searched the property for cash and other valuables.
Wong and Goh checked the phones for cryptocurrency applications and discovered large amounts of crypto belonging to the host. The gang transferred funds to a wallet under their control, emptied cash from a safe and searched a bedroom for further valuables.
Cryptocurrency has become increasingly connected with some unusual stories around poker. Chinese poker player Zhewen Hu recently filed a lawsuit alleging a $1 million crypto fraud, although that case concerns a civil investment dispute rather than physical robbery.
Gang Escaped Singapore in Two Cars
The robbers left the house after taking approximately S$4.9 million worth of cryptocurrency, cash and valuables.
Their escape had also been planned in advance. Wong and Goh left Singapore through the Tuas Checkpoint at around 2:15 a.m., while the rest of the group crossed into Malaysia through the Woodlands Checkpoint approximately 25 minutes later.
They arranged to regroup in Kuala Lumpur and discarded clothing and weapons used during the robbery along the way.
The victims were eventually able to free themselves and contact police. They suffered minor injuries from being restrained.
Singapore Police later recovered around S$1.69 million of the stolen property and funds. Prosecutors said approximately S$3.21 million remains missing.
Six Men Plead Guilty
The six defendants who appeared in court on September 14 are Wong Chi Shan, Goh Boon Tong, Mohd Hamidon Ahmed, Kartik Palaniappan, Mohd Hashim Ismail and Muhammad Tauffiq Ahmad Fauzi.
All six are Malaysian nationals and pleaded guilty to charges including armed gang robbery. Prosecutors described the case as one of the highest-value robberies in Singapore’s history in nominal terms.
The prosecution is seeking different sentences based on each man’s involvement. Requested prison terms range from seven years and eight months to 13 years and one month, while caning has also been sought.
The seventh man involved has not been arrested. Court documents indicate that he is believed to have left Malaysia for Thailand.
What began as another private high-stakes poker session ultimately became the focus of months of surveillance and planning.
The size of the game, use of cryptocurrency and lack of conventional casino security combined to create a target worth millions.
