Jail for former Thailand-based ‘Ah Long’ who fled S’pore in 2018 after jumping bail

SINGAPORE – A Singaporean man who operated an unlicensed moneylending business in Thailand that targeted debtors here was caught at Changi Airport on Feb 13, 2018, and charged two days later.

Lua Xiang Long was released on bail of $30,000 and was supposed to return to the State Courts on March 20, 2018.

Instead, he boarded a fishing boat and left for Malaysia without his passport, before making his way back to Thailand.

But on April 24, 2023, Lua surrendered to the Thai authorities, as he felt lonely and missed his mother.

He was sent back to Singapore the next day.

On Nov 28, the 34-year-old was sentenced to two years and seven months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to offences including multiple charges under the Moneylenders Act.

He was also fined $60,000 and will have to spend an additional 12 weeks behind bars if he is unable to fork out the amount.

Lua joined the…