Channelling recovered funds from scam-related offences towards international enforcement cooperation, victim support and targeting transnational scam syndicates

Question:

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs whether recovered funds from scam-related offences forfeited to the state can be channelled towards international enforcement cooperation, victim support initiatives or efforts targeting the organisers of transnational scam syndicates.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Funds recovered from scam-related offences that are forfeited to the State are transferred to the Government Consolidated Fund, which is used to fund Government expenditure in accordance with the Government’s spending priorities.

2. Our spending on anti-scam initiatives is independent of the amount of forfeited proceeds. The Ministry of Home Affairs receives a budget allocation to pursue the Ministry’s priorities for Singapore, which would include combating scams.