Sam Goi, known as the “popiah king” and owner of Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing, provided information about private dinners involving Fujian gang member Su Haijin and several Singapore ministers. Goi confirmed all gatherings followed COVID-19 regulations at the time.
According to Goi’s statement on May 9, the dinner with Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat happened on November 19, 2020. NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng attended a dinner on May 1, 2021. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was present at a dinner on May 10, 2022.
Goi emphasized that each gathering complied with COVID safe management measures. For example, regulations allowed gatherings of up to eight people during the May 1, 2021 dinner with Ng.
The dinners took place at high-end restaurants including Tong Le Private Dining in OUE Tower, TungLok Signatures at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, and Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee in Orange Grove Road. Goi told media that he paid for the meals and has not maintained contact with Su since then.
Ho Ching defended the ministers in a Facebook post on May 11. She noted these were meals at well-known restaurants that would have enforced COVID restrictions. She mentioned the May 1 dinner occurred on Labour Day, possibly explaining the invitations “during a quiet May Day” in the pandemic. She stated it was “not a nefarious gathering to hatch any plots.”
Regarding Su’s conviction, Ho wrote that if anyone at the dinner had known about Su’s money laundering activities, “they would have surely not invited him, nor attended a dinner involving him.”
Ministers Ong and Chee clarified through press secretaries on May 6, 2025 that they “do not know Su personally, and do not have any contact with him.” Their statement added they meet many people at various events and attended the dinners at a friend’s invitation, and “Su happened to be there.”
Ng issued a statement on May 6, 2025, saying the dinner he attended took place “some time back” with no further interactions with Su after police investigations began. He noted that meeting private-sector leaders is part of his work as labour chief.
Derek Goh, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive of Serial System, who attended the May 1, 2021 dinner, told The Straits Times that Goi would “sometimes call us to have dinner and socialize.” Goh said he was unaware why Su was at the dinner, describing it as “just a social networking event.” He added that if he had known Su was involved in money laundering, he “would not have gone.”
Su faced 14 charges and received a 14-month jail sentence on April 4, 2024. The Cypriot national was deported to Cambodia on May 28, 2024 after being in custody since his arrest on August 15, 2023.
He was among 10 people found guilty in a $3 billion money laundering case, one of Singapore’s largest. Su was arrested following raids by the police’s Commercial Affairs Department. While trying to escape, he jumped off the balcony of his rented good-class bungalow in Ewart Park, Bukit Timah, and fractured his feet and wrist.
