Filipino woman jailed in Singapore for role in Cambodia scam syndicate

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On August 24, 35-year-old Filipino national De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban was sentenced to 25 months in prison by a Singapore court for her role in a scam syndicate. De Villar was arrested alongside 11 others in a joint operation between the Singapore Police Force and the Cambodian National Police after she was found working at a call center in Phnom Penh. The prosecution successfully argued that despite her claims of coercion, she knowingly participated in a conspiracy to cheat people in Singapore, with evidence showing she used scripts and local knowledge to target victims. The syndicate is linked to at least 528 scam cases, resulting in S$52.5 million in total losses.

Consequences

This sentencing establishes a precedent for the remaining 11 defendants charged in the same cross-border operation. It reinforces the legal stance that participants in overseas scam compounds can be held liable for criminal activity regardless of their level of seniority or claims of limited mobility.

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