Singapore to auction forfeited assets from
Over 1,000 luxury items and 80 properties seized in Singapore's S$3 billion money laundering case will be auctioned from September 2026.
More than 1,000 luxury items and 80 real estate properties forfeited in Singapore's S$3 billion money laundering case will be sold at auction starting in September 2026. Audit firm Deloitte, appointed by the Singapore Police Force in July 2025 to manage the assets, announced the sales plan on Saturday, August 29.
The assets will be sold in phases between September 2026 and mid-2027. The composition and number of items in each phase are still being finalised. Deloitte stated that details may change as authentication and preparatory work continues.
Asset Sales and Auction Partners
The properties will be auctioned by real estate firms SRI, Edmund Tie & Company, and Knight Frank. Some selected properties will also be offered for sale through an expression of interest process run by List International Realty, outside the main auction.
Auction house Hotlotz will handle the luxury goods. These comprise jewellery, watches, and handbags.
Online Auctions for Luxury Goods
Hotlotz said it will hold 15 online auctions of the luxury items from September 2026 to May 2027. The firm does not accept commission or telephone bids and does not hold traditional in-room auctions.
Catalogues for the first two auctions will be released at 10am on September 7, 2026, when online bidding also opens. The first auction, closing on September 20 at 4pm, will feature handbags and accessories from brands including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior. The second auction, closing at the same time on September 27, will feature jewellery pieces from makers such as Graff, Bulgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
These two initial auctions will include over 300 handbags and accessories and over 250 jewellery pieces. Their combined pre-sale estimate is between S$2.9 million and S$3.9 million.
| Auction | Closing Date | Featured Items | Key Brands/ Makers | Quantity Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Sep 20, 4pm | Handbags & Accessories | Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior | Over 300 items |
| Second | Sep 27, 4pm | Jewellery | Graff, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels | Over 250 pieces |
Catalogues for subsequent auctions will be released closer to each sale. Hotlotz said these will include Hermès handbags and watches from Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, and Rolex.
The auctions are open to participants globally. However, bidders must register and pass compulsory identity verification checks before taking part. Approved bidders can book a viewing slot at Le Freeport, a high-security storage facility in Changi where the items are kept. Viewing is strictly by appointment; walk-ins are not allowed. Hotlotz said appointment slots are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hotlotz founder and chief executive Matt Elton said the case's global profile would draw added attention to the auctions. He stated his aim was to “sell everything in the fairest, most transparent way and offer it to the widest market”. He added that he was trying to avoid sensationalism. Mr. Elton said transparency was key, including making sure bidders know where the items came from. Starting prices are benchmarked against other auctions rather than original retail or secondary-market prices.
The case emerged after islandwide raids in August 2023 uncovered millions of dollars earned from an illicit gambling ring based in Southeast Asia. Ten offenders, all originally from China, have been convicted and deported after serving their sentences.
