Singapore Expands Charges in AI Chip Smuggling Case, Malaysia Launches Investigation

Singapore adds charges for two held in server fraud case

SINGAPORE, March 6 - Singapore authorities added fresh charges on Thursday against three men charged with server fraud, court documents showed, in a case that has drawn international attention for possible infringement of export controls. The case is part of a wider police investigation of 22 individuals and companies suspected of false representation, amid concerns that organised AI chip smuggling to China has been tracked out of nations such as Singapore. Officials in the wealthy city state have said the servers may contain Nvidia NVDA.O chips, but stopped short of saying if they are subject to U.S. export controls. The United States is investigating if DeepSeek, the Chinese company whose AI model's performance rocked the tech world in January, has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, Reuters reported. Two suspects, Aaron Woon, 41, and Alan Wei, 49, face one more charge each for conspiring to commit fraud on tech firm Super Micro (SMCI.O), opens new tab in 2024 in Singapore. They made "false representation that the items would not be transferred to a person other than the authorised ultimate consignee of end users", police said in the charge sheets. Reuters could not immediately trace contact details for their lawyers. Authorities also amended earlier charges, dating from late in February, to include that they conspired to commit fraud on tech firm Dell (DELL.N), opens new tab, also making false representations on where the items would end up. Singapore has said the servers made their way to Malaysia and Malaysia is investigating if its laws were breached. A third suspect in the investigation, Chinese national Li Ming, 51, who was also charged in February, is set to appear in court on Thursday. Phones, computers and laptops are among 42 devices seized by police that are being examined by forensic experts, with investigations in a preliminary stage, prosecutors said in court on Thursday. Police, who sought bank statements to trace the movement of funds, will also seek the help of foreign law enforcement bodies, prosecutors added. Reporting by Bing Hong Lok; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Clarence Fernandez Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence

Malaysia probes server shipments connected to Singapore fraud case

Kuala Lumpur, March 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia is investigating if local laws were breached in the shipment of servers linked to a Singapore fraud case, as they may have contained advanced chips subject to U.S. export controls. Singapore charged three men late last month with fraud in a case that domestic media linked to the transfer of Nvidia's (NVDA.O), opens new tab artificial intelligence chips from the country to Chinese AI firm DeepSeek. Singapore said the servers involved in the case were supplied by U.S. firms and shipped to Malaysia. It also said the servers may have contained Nvidia chips, without elaborating whether they are subject to U.S. export controls. "The Government of Malaysia is taking the necessary actions to establish whether Malaysian laws had been breached in the alleged shipment of U.S.-sanctioned AI chips from Singapore to Malaysia," the trade ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. It said the government is working closely with the U.S. and Singapore to "find effective ways to address the issue of the trade involving U.S.-sanctioned chips". The United States is investigating if DeepSeek, the Chinese company whose AI model's performance rocked the tech world in January, has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, Reuters reported earlier. Reporting by Danial Azhar; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Jacqueline Wong Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Asia Pacific

Singapore Adds Charges for Two Held in Server Fraud Case

SINGAPORE - Singapore authorities added fresh charges on Thursday against three men charged with server fraud, court documents showed, in a case that has drawn international attention for possible infringement of export controls. The case is part of a wider police investigation of 22 individuals and companies suspected of false representation, amid concerns that organised AI chip smuggling to China has been tracked out of nations such as Singapore. Officials in the wealthy city state have said the servers may contain Nvidia chips, but stopped short of saying if they are subject to U.S. export controls. The United States is investigating if DeepSeek, the Chinese company whose AI model's performance rocked the tech world in January, has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, Reuters reported. Two suspects, Aaron Woon, 41, and Alan Wei, 49, face one more charge each for conspiring to commit fraud on tech firm Super Micro in 2024 in Singapore. They made "false representation that the items would not be transferred to a person other than the authorised ultimate consignee of end users", police said in the charge sheets. Reuters could not immediately trace contact details for their lawyers. Authorities also amended earlier charges, dating from late in February, to include that they conspired to commit fraud on tech firm Dell, also making false representations on where the items would end up. Singapore has said the servers made their way to Malaysia and Malaysia is investigating if its laws were breached. A third suspect in the investigation, Chinese national Li Ming, 51, who was also charged in February, is set to appear in court on Thursday. Phones, computers and laptops are among 42 devices seized by police that are being examined by forensic experts, with investigations in a preliminary stage, prosecutors said in court on Thursday. Police, who sought bank statements to trace the movement of funds, will also seek the help of foreign law enforcement bodies, prosecutors added. (Reporting by Bing Hong Lok; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Malaysia Probes Server Shipments Connected to Singapore Fraud Case

Kuala Lumpur (Reuters) - Malaysia is investigating if local laws were breached in the shipment of servers linked to a Singapore fraud case, as they may have contained advanced chips subject to U.S. export controls. Singapore charged three men late last month with fraud in a case that domestic media linked to the transfer of Nvidia's artificial intelligence chips from the country to Chinese AI firm DeepSeek. Singapore said the servers involved in the case were supplied by U.S. firms and shipped to Malaysia. It also said the servers may have contained Nvidia chips, without elaborating whether they are subject to U.S. export controls. "The Government of Malaysia is taking the necessary actions to establish whether Malaysian laws had been breached in the alleged shipment of U.S.-sanctioned AI chips from Singapore to Malaysia," the trade ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday. It said the government is working closely with the U.S. and Singapore to "find effective ways to address the issue of the trade involving U.S.-sanctioned chips". The United States is investigating if DeepSeek, the Chinese company whose AI model's performance rocked the tech world in January, has been using U.S. chips that are not allowed to be shipped to China, Reuters reported earlier. (Reporting by Danial Azhar; Writing by Xinghui Kok; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Jacqueline Wong)