Three men and three companies charged in Singapore for scheme to export Chinese mattresses as Singapore goods to evade US duties
Three Singaporean men and three companies have been charged for allegedly falsely declaring China-made mattresses as Singapore-origin goods to avoid US anti-dumping duties. The scheme, which operated between August 2022 and June 2025, involved goods valued at over S$23 million (US$18 million). The case highlights the misuse of Certificates of Origin and threatens Singapore's reputation as a trustworthy global trading hub.
Singapore Customs charged three men — Loh Yew Kong (68), Leong Yu Fong (41), and Loh Chen Sing Darren (37) — along with three companies (Brighture Et Riche, Brighture Et Riche (Int), and Zenova International) on June 11, 2025, for allegedly mislabeling Chinese-made mattresses as Singapore goods destined for the US market. Investigations began in February 2025 after a tip-off, and authorities uncovered a scheme running from August 2022 to June 2025 involving goods worth more than S$23 million. The mattresses were subject to US anti-dumping duties imposed in 2019, after the US Commerce Department found Chinese mattress manufacturers were selling below fair market value. Warehouse images released by Singapore Customs show large quantities of boxed hybrid mattresses stored on pallets, illustrating the scale of the alleged operation. The accused face charges related to false declarations, false statements, and incorrect trade descriptions, with penalties including fines of up to S$100,000 or three times the goods' value, and up to two years in prison. Singapore Customs emphasized that such conduct undermines international trade documentation integrity and could damage the country's standing as a reliable global trading hub.
What's missing
It is unclear how the mattresses were physically processed or repackaged in Singapore to appear locally made.
What different sources said
- South China Morning PostCenter
Singapore charges 3 men over US$18 million fake country of origin mattress scam
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
3 charged over alleged scheme to export China-made mattresses as Singapore goods to avoid US duties
Related
UNRWA Fires 70 Gaza Staff Members, Denies Terminations Validate Hamas Allegations
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has dismissed 70 employees in Gaza with immediate effect, citing safety and security risks. The move follows a USAID investigation that referred over 100 UNRWA staff for suspension or dismissal, and longstanding Israeli allegations that significant portions of the agency's workforce have ties to Hamas. The firings mark a significant but contested step in addressing accusations that have dogged the agency since the October 7, 2023 attacks, while UNRWA insists the dismissals are not an admission of guilt.
China's Tungsten Export Controls Ripple Through Global Supply Chains, From AI Chips to Weapons
China's 2025 export restrictions on tungsten have triggered price surges, potential production halts at Japanese semiconductor gas manufacturers, and a push to revive domestic mining in the United States. Tungsten, of which China produces over 78 percent of global supply, is critical to both advanced AI chipmaking and military munitions. The disruptions are exposing deep vulnerabilities in Western and Asian supply chains for a material with few short-term substitutes.
Rain Delays Start of India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI in Dharamshala
Persistent drizzle has delayed the toss and cast doubt over the first ODI between India and Afghanistan at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The meteorological department issued an orange alert for June 12 warning of thunderstorms and hail across parts of Himachal Pradesh, with a 60–70% chance of showers forecast throughout the day. The delay threatens what would have been a historically significant match — the first-ever bilateral ODI series between the two nations.