Singapore Attorney General Forms Crypto Crime Task Forces

The Singaporean Office of the Attorney General has formally established two specialized task forces to combat criminal activity involving cryptocurrencies.

Each of these task forces will consist of approximately 20 attorneys.

Ong Shouren, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, told a local news outlet that law enforcement agencies are under increasing pressure to adapt and comprehend how criminals utilize technology, which is leading to the emergence of new crime patterns.

This pressure is anticipated to persist shortly.

He continued by stating that for prosecutors to combat these newly emerging crimes driven by technology effectively, they must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and expertise.

Ong Shouren stated:

“In general, there are two main forms of technology crimes. One is technology-enabled crimes, directly related to technology, such as hacking into computer systems. The other is technology-assisted crimes, which encompass traditional crimes that are facilitated by technology, including digital counterfeiting, online harassment, and fraud.”

The Attorney General of Singapore created the Technology Crime Working Group (Technology Crime Task Force) and the Cryptocurrency Task Force to combat the proliferation of technology-related crimes.

In addition to managing digital evidence and related matters, the Technology Crime Working Group’s primary objective is to combat crimes committed with computers or technological devices.

The Cryptocurrency Task Force, on the other hand, treats virtual currencies as assets to address the myriad problems associated with them.

This involves collaborating with the Singapore Police Force to identify, seize, and manage assets denominated in virtual currencies. This is becoming an increasingly crucial component of modern financial investigations.

Shouren said:

“We also maintain contact with large technology companies, such as social media companies, because the public sector and the private sector must work closely together to combat cybercrime and respond to the challenges brought about by the rise of technology.”