Singaporean Man Jailed Over 9 Years for Tax Evasion on Imported Vehicles

A Singaporean man, Clement Lee, will serve more than nine years in prison after failing to pay a S$14 million fine for evading duties and Goods and Services Tax (GST) on imported motor vehicles. Lee, formerly a director of Crownston Line Pte Ltd, fraudulently suppressed the declared values of 2,523 vehicles imported between July 2016 and April 2022.

Details of the Case

Lee was initially fined S$14 million on February 25, 2026, for fraudulent evasion of duty amounting to approximately S$5,197,564. He also faced 15 charges related to GST evasion and incorrect declarations, which were considered during sentencing. He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for under-declaring vehicle values to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), resulting in a S$39,130,302 shortfall in Additional Registration Fee (ARF) payments. He was ordered to repay this amount to the LTA. Channel NewsAsia and the Land Transport Authority reported on the sentencing.

Employee’s Involvement

Lee’s employee, Sim Yan Min, was also fined S$6.8 million on April 8, 2025, for abetting the fraudulent evasion of duty. Sim assisted Lee in preparing documents for submission to Singapore Customs and handled remittances to Crownston’s overseas suppliers. He pleaded guilty to four charges related to duties amounting to approximately S$2,598,078 and is currently serving 72 months’ imprisonment in default of paying his fine. LTA and Singapore Customs stated that Sim admitted Lee instructed him that balance payments were excess payments to suppliers, concealing the under-declaration of vehicle values.

Penalties for Offenses

Individuals convicted of fraudulent evasion of duty or GST on imported goods can face fines of up to 20 times the amount evaded and/or imprisonment for up to two years. Providing incorrect information regarding ARF calculations can result in fines up to S$10,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, with doubled penalties for amalgamated charges.