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SINGAPORE: There is currently insufficient evidence to warrant investigation into a permanent resident (PR) wanted by Beijing on money laundering charges, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Thursday (Dec 12).
Chinese national Yan Zhenxing was arrested in Indonesia on December 2 after arriving in Batam for a holiday with his family.
In response to CNA’s questions about whether Yan was wanted in Singapore, SPF said: “To date, we do not have enough evidence that Yan may have committed money laundering offenses under the laws of Singapore that would allow us to initiate a formal investigation against him.”
According to Indonesian authorities, Yan – who allegedly helped transfer and launder nearly $18 million from a criminal online gambling group in China – was arrested following an Interpol Red Notice for him.
However, according to police, there was no Interpol Red Notice against him at the time his PR status was granted.
Police also previously told CNA that no request for assistance had been received from Chinese authorities.
“Should we ultimately receive credible evidence of Yan’s alleged wrongdoing, we will deal with him in accordance with our laws, including the assessment of his PR status,” they said.
Police added that an Interpol Red Notice is not an arrest warrant, but an international alert for a wanted person, published at the request of a member state.
“Hence, an Interpol Red Notice does not give the police the authority to arrest a fugitive wanted by a foreign jurisdiction. The police could only do this on the basis of an extradition request submitted under an extradition treaty,” SPF said.
However, police said they are still closely monitoring Interpol Red Notices, even if there are no requests for assistance from the country that published the notice.
Should a person with links to Singapore be subject to an Interpol Red Notice, authorities will “closely monitor the person and investigate if there is evidence that he or she has committed offenses under Singaporean laws”.
“In addition, the negative information from the Interpol Red Notice will be an important factor when authorities deliberate on the renewal of the individual’s immigration facilities.”
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