Cheating charges handed to man who allegedly claimed he was tortured, forced to make scam calls

Sufyan Azlan, a 30-year-old Singaporean, appeared in court on November 6, 2025, facing two charges of cheating. Prosecutors allege that he duped a fellow individual into transferring nearly $40,000 to him between November 2025 and January 2026. According to the report, Azlan falsely claimed that he had been taken abroad and subjected to torture, starvation, and forced to make scam calls.

If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine for each charge. The case against Azlan is set to be heard again on November 19, 2025.

The issue of scam centers in the region has garnered international attention, with recent reports highlighting the abuse of victims. In May, The Straits Times covered a Cambodian court's conviction of six Chinese nationals for life imprisonment, accusing them of torturing and murdering a South Korean student who was part of one of the country's scam centers.

Since 2022, the Singapore Government has extended consular assistance to nine Singaporeans who reportedly fell prey to scam syndicates, luring them overseas to work. As of November 2025, only three individuals accepted the Government's offer of assistance to return to Singapore and obtain necessary documentation for their return, according to Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam.

Shanmugam clarified that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the nine Singaporeans were held captive and exploited by overseas scam syndicates.