Singapore Man Jailed for Role in S$91,000 Pokémon Card Scam and Subsequent Theft

A 22-year-old in Singapore is sentenced to jail for laundering Pokémon card scam proceeds and stealing food from a supermarket while on bail.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 6:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

The Mechanics of the Pokémon Card Fraud

A sentencing hearing on April 13 revealed the inner workings of a significant trading card scam that targeted dozens of collectors in Singapore. The operation, led by Abdul Matiin Abdul Jameel, involved the fraudulent sale of Pokémon cards that did not exist. In total, Matiin cheated 45 victims out of more than S$91,000. To move the illicit funds, Matiin recruited 22-year-old Melvinder Singh Khaira via the messaging app Telegram, promising him S$300 a day to collect cash and coordinate transfers.

Money Laundering Through Third-Party Accounts

In May 2025, Melvinder facilitated the movement of nearly S$10,000 by securing a bank account from a friend. Despite being told by Matiin that the money consisted of "company funds" that were not illegally obtained, the court heard that Melvinder was enticed by the financial reward to participate in the "business." After the victim funds were deposited into the friend's account, Melvinder directed the withdrawal of the cash and left the money at a pre-arranged location near a Tampines market for Matiin to collect.

Arrest and Offending While on Bail

Melvinder was arrested in June 2025 following a police investigation into the suspicious bank activity. However, while released on bail six months later, he committed a secondary offense. On December 18, 2025, he was apprehended at a supermarket in Tampines for stealing food items worth over S$52, including frozen unagi and chicken meatballs. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadia Lee informed the court that the defendant claimed he committed the theft because he wanted to provide a "parting gift" to his sister before she moved overseas for her studies but lacked the funds to pay for the groceries.