James Phang Wah

James Phang Wah is a convicted criminal and former businessman. Before his arrest and conviction, he was the founder, director and international president of the now-defunct Empire Group Alliance.

Early life and education Phang grew up at a vegetable farm in Lim Chu Kang, Singapore.

Career Since Phang was 19, he started doing door-to-door sales selling various products..

After graduation, Phang worked at Shin Min Daily News for six years from 1984 to 1990 as a feature writer.

On 3 February 2009, Phang, with three others including Jackie Hoo Choon Cheat, a director of Sunshine Empire were charged with fraudulent trading, failure to maintain proper accounting records of Sunshine Empire and criminal breach of trust as an agent of Sunshine Empire.

Phang faced six charges of falsification of Sunshine Empire’s accounts and one charge of false declaration of the share capital of Empire Communications Technology Pte Ltd. He also faced three charges for possession of uncensored and obscene films at his Westwood Avenue home.

His wife, Neo Kuon Huay, a director of Empire Emall (S) Pte Ltd faced six charges of falsification of Sunshine Empire’s accounts under Section 477A of the Penal Code and one charge of false declaration of the share capital of Empire Emall (S) Pte Ltd. On 30 July 2010, Phang has been sentenced to nine years' jail and fined $60,000 while his wife was also fined $60,000.

A total of nearly S$190 million was swindled from the participants, of which only S$21 million was recovered by the Singapore authorities.

Release and criminal charges in Malaysia Phang was released on 20 December 2017. However, a day after his release, he faced charges of fraud which he committed in Malaysia. He was currently on trial for the crimes he committed in Malaysia. He was charged on 22 December 2017, for two counts of accepting deposits without a valid licence at Sunshine Empire's two premises in Kuala Lumpur, between 14 July 2006 and 17 October 2006, as well as between 18 October 2006 and 4 April 2008.

Controversial claims During media interviews, Phang described himself as a legend and 'better than Warren Buffett'. However, his name has never appeared on the List of Singaporeans by net worth, which lists all the billionaires and in Singapore. It is also not known whether James Phang Wah has met Warren Buffett.

In addition, Phang also claimed to have over one million students worldwide and to control more than US$300 million (S$439 million) in assets. Before his arrest and conviction, Phang emphasised that he 'would not harm anyone and my businesses are legal'. He also claimed that in his seminars, his loyal participants would also shout "Father, I love you!".

Personal life Phang is married to Neo Kuon Huay. He has four children.