Pokemon TCG Cards, with the right rarity, are actually among the most expensive pieces of cardboard in the world with prices for the rarest ones going as high as $500,000. That’s likely why Pokemon TCG Cards were at the top of one Singaporean man’s shopping list after he stole a sum of $500,000 (SGD) for many reasons.
Granted, $500,000 (SDG) when converted to USD is only $370,000 (USD) but that’s a lot more than a year’s salary for most people even in the US. In any case, the Pokemon TCG fan in question was none other than Linberg Yeo Yu Wei, a 27-year-old accountant, courtesy of The Straits Times.
Back in his previous work, Wei noticed that the CEO of his company would approve just about any transfer of their funds based on trust alone. Hence, Wei got tempted and from August to October 2023, he managed to siphon $501,173 (SGD) in company funds into his bank accounts.
Afterward, Wei bought several luxuries including some presumably rare Pokemon TCG cards, a 2nd-hand Rolex, and an iPad. Wei’s company only started noticing some account discrepancies in November 2023 and made a full investigation in December 2023.
After the investigations, Wei was arrested back on January 5, 2024, but most of the details of his crimes were revealed during his sentencing recently in January 22, 2025. The accountant was sentenced to 19 months of jail time.
Sadly, the court didn’t divulge which Pokemon TCG cards Wei bought but upon his arrest, Wei had around $400,000 (SGD) left from the money he stole, according to The Straits Times. The 2nd-hand Rolex watch cost $17,888, meaning a big chunk of the $100,000 Wei managed to spend went to Pokemon cards.
People from various social media platforms even commented on Wei’s Pokemon cards expenditure:
“Imagine sitting in jail explaining to your cellmate that you’re here because Pikachu and a shiny Rolex were just too irresistible. That’s next-level commitment to poor decision-making,” says u/MyYearBabe
“Damn must have been a charizard,” said u/KuntaWuKnicks
“He got jail time, so obviously didn’t play his cards right,” says u/Ozymannoches
