Nigerian man, Amos Gabriel who was jailed two months ago in Singapore for fraud has been charged to court again for cheating co-prisoner

A Nigerian man who was jailed two months ago over a scheme to swindle Citibank in New York City has been charged to court again today, July 31st for a fresh offence of cheating.  

Amos Paul Gabriel, 48, was charged via video-link for cheating a person named Milled Ed Khouri, who was at Changi Prison Complex between January and May last year with Amos. He is accused of deceiving the victim into delivering AUD40,000 (S$37,745) to another person by telling him the money would be used to post bail for him.  

Amos is currently serving a three-year jail term meted out on May 16 for money laundering and traffic offences. He was involved in a broader money-laundering scheme involving transfers of about US$27.2 million to accounts in the United States, Australia, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Korea.  

District Judge Terence Tay asked Amos on Wednesday via video-link how he intends to plead. “I’m not pleading any charge,” Amos replied. “I think I need to talk to my lawyer. I have a lawyer but I’m not aware of this case. I only received the information last night that I’m coming to court.”  

In response, the judge answered, “you should be aware by now, because you are now in court, there are a lot of people here looking at you.”  

He granted Amos an adjournment to speak to a lawyer. He will return to court on August 28. If convicted of cheating, he faces up to 10 years’ jail and a fine.