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 were charged on June 11, 2025, for allegedly falsifying declarations to export Chinese-made mattresses as Singapore-origin goods to avoid US anti-dumping duties. The scheme operated between August 2022 and June 2025, involving goods valued at over S$23 million (US$18 million). Singapore Customs emphasized that such conduct undermines international trade integrity and damages Singapore's reputation as a trusted trading hub.
Singaporean nationals Loh Yew Kong (68), Leong Yu Fong (41), and Loh Chen Sing Darren (37), along with companies Brighture Et Riche, Brighture Et Riche (Int), and Zenova International, face charges related to falsely declaring Chinese-made mattresses as Singapore goods for export to the United States. Investigations began in February 2025 after authorities received information about the fraudulent declarations. The alleged scheme operated for nearly three years, involving mattresses valued at over S$23 million. Chinese mattresses have been subject to US anti-dumping duties since 2019, when the US Commerce Department determined they were being sold below fair value. The defendants face potential penalties including fines up to S$100,000 or three times the goods' value, and up to two years imprisonment.
What different sources said
- South China Morning PostCenter
Singapore charges 3 men over US$18 million fake country of origin mattress scam
- CNACenter
3 charged over alleged scheme to export China-made mattresses as Singapore goods to avoid US duties
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
3 charged over alleged scheme to export China-made mattresses as Singapore goods to avoid US duties
Related

RBI Revives FCNR(B) Swap Window to Attract NRI Foreign Currency Deposits
India's central bank has reactivated a Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR(B)) swap facility to encourage non-resident Indians to bring foreign currency into the country. The move aims to boost foreign exchange inflows and address capital needs, with some banks exploring ways to amplify participation through overseas lending arrangements. The revival is significant as it seeks to replicate strong inflows seen during a similar 2013 initiative.
DBS to Launch Tokenised Physical Gold for Retail Customers in Singapore
DBS Group, Singapore's largest bank, announced it will offer tokenised physical gold to retail customers starting in the second half of 2026 through its digibank app. Each token will be backed by one gram of physical gold stored in a DBS vault in Singapore, allowing retail investors to buy smaller amounts and trade around the clock. The move reflects growing demand for gold as a store of value and Singapore's push to become a regional gold trading hub.

Singapore Advances S$500 CDC Voucher Distribution to June 11
Singaporean households can now claim S$500 in Community Development Council vouchers starting June 11, with the distribution brought forward from January 2027 to help ease cost pressures. The government cited uncertainty from the Middle East conflict and expected future inflation as reasons for accelerating the S$700 million program, which will benefit approximately 1.38 million households. The vouchers support both household spending at hawkers and supermarkets while bolstering local merchants during economic uncertainty.