Illegal clubhouse scheme at Bukit Timah GCB leads to jail for three men, others under probe

SINGAPORE: Three men were jailed on 26 May 2025 for their roles in operating an unauthorised clubhouse at a rented Good Class Bungalow (GCB) in Bukit Timah, Singapore. The offenders—Cambodian national Su Wenhui  (苏文辉), 44, Chinese national Su Zhentan (苏振探), 40, and Singaporean Wu Pengfei (吴朋飞), 35—were each found guilty of participating in a scheme that violated zoning laws restricting GCBs to residential use only. Court proceedings revealed that the trio conspired with Malaysian property agent Koh Hui Ming (许慧茗) and Cambodian Wu Guojing, 33, to run the illegal operation at a Victoria Park Road property. Guojing, believed to be the operation’s financier and overall manager, left Singapore in July 2023 and remains at large. On Monday, 26 May 2025, Wenhui was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, while Zhentan and Pengfei received two months each. All three had pleaded guilty to cheating offences, with other charges taken into consideration.

Additional charge of working without a valid work pass

Wenhui admitted to one count of cheating and another for moving over S$20,000 out of Singapore without declaring it to authorities. An additional charge of working without a valid work pass was considered during sentencing. Although Wenhui held an employment pass under SG Eastcode, where Guojing was director and shareholder, he did not actually work for the company. Zhentan also had a work permit with Wingo Ecommerce but similarly did not perform any duties for the business. He had an extra charge of working without a valid permit considered for his sentencing. According to court documents, Guojing used the GCB as an exclusive venue for friends and business contacts. It offered amenities such as a pool table, swimming pool, and space for gambling activities. He paid the salaries of the clubhouse “staff” and covered rental costs, including a monthly lease of S$58,000 for the Victoria Park Road residence. The source of his funds remains unknown. Wenhui was designated clubhouse manager, responsible for daily operations. He received financial support from Guojing, who covered his living expenses, including S$30,000 monthly rent for a separate Watten Estate Road property, along with vehicle purchases. Zhentan, acting as both chef and treasurer, was paid 18,000 yuan (around US$2,500) monthly. He tracked expenses and received between S$50,000 and S$100,000 every five to ten days. Though he suspected the money came from dubious sources, he did not raise concerns. Pengfei was one of four chauffeurs employed to ferry guests to and from the GCB. He earned S$5,500 a month and, like Zhentan, did not question the financial backing for the clubhouse. Additional staff included two pool and golf instructors, two masseurs, and two foreign domestic workers.

Property agent helped conceal true use of luxury rentals

In February 2023, Guojing and Wenhui enlisted property agent Koh to secure a residence suitable for their clubhouse operations. Initially, they rented a unit at Garlick Avenue for S$125,000 monthly, hiring Zhentan and Pengfei in July 2023 to support operations. Seeking to reduce costs, Guojing instructed Koh to find a more affordable location in early 2024. subsequently found the Victoria Park Road property, owned by the Victoria Park Trust. To avoid scrutiny, Wenhui directed that the lease be signed under Pengfei’s name, claiming it was for his family’s use. Koh helped mask their intentions by falsely stating that Pengfei was the owner of a food and beverage business and would live there with his wife and child. Koh initially encountered resistance from one of the listing agents but bypassed them in favour of a second agent. She earned S$26,000 in commission, which she used as a deposit on a condominium in Pasir Ris.

Undeclared cash found on Wenhui during airport check

On 17 August 2023, Wenhui was stopped at Changi Airport en route to Manila. Police discovered that he was carrying undeclared cash totalling S$22,008.55, breaching the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act. Court documents do not specify what led authorities to uncover the illegal operations. However, at about 1.20am on 18 May 2024, police raided the Victoria Park Road bungalow. Nine individuals were present, including Wenhui, Zhentan, Pengfei, and Koh, all of whom were arrested. The case against Koh is ongoing. Guojing’s whereabouts remain unknown as investigations continue into the broader network surrounding the unauthorised clubhouse activities.