WASHINGTON, Nov 15 — A 20-year-old Singaporean man accused of orchestrating a US$230 million (RM1.1 billion) cryptocurrency theft has asked for a “speedy trial” in the United States. Malone Lam appeared before a judge in Washington yesterday for a pre-trial hearing, during which evidence disclosure was discussed.
Lam and his alleged co-conspirator, Jeandiel Serrano, are charged with stealing and laundering over 4,100 bitcoin by impersonating a Google employee, according to US prosecutors. The US Department of Justice has described the case as “one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts from a private individual in the history of the United States.” Lam allegedly used some of the stolen funds for lavish spending, including splurging hundreds of thousands of dollars per night at nightclubs in Los Angeles and Miami and buying luxury cars.
During the hearing, Lam, clad in a blue prison shirt, blue trousers, and a white long-sleeved T-shirt, sat beside his defence team. US prosecutors and his lawyers discussed the upcoming discovery phase, which will include evidence such as online chat screenshots and Lam’s smartphone data, which remains locked. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly acknowledged the FBI’s proficiency in retrieving data from phones.
She confirmed that Lam was aware of his rights concerning a “speedy trial,” a constitutional right aimed at preventing undue delays in criminal prosecutions. The judge suggested a trial date as early as March or April next year..
