Man needed by US with $7 million bounty on his head nonetheless in Singapore

SINGAPORE – The Singaporean businessman who has a US$5 million (S$7 million) bounty on his head continues to be in Singapore.

Kwek Kee Seng, 62, the proprietor of the Swanseas Port Companies transport firm right here, is accused of violating sanctions on North Korea.

He’s needed by america’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the US Division of State’s Rewards for Justice programme provided a bounty for data on him on Thursday.

On Saturday, the Singapore Police Drive mentioned he’s nonetheless in Singapore, and has been beneath investigation by the Business Affairs Division for offences beneath Singapore’s United Nations Act 2001.

His passport has been impounded since investigations began in April 2021.

The police mentioned they shared data on investigations with US regulation enforcement authorities through a letter on April 30, 2021.

This was formally conveyed by Singapore to varied US businesses by means of a third-party be aware on Could 7, 2021.

The police mentioned in a press release: “Since then, there have been a number of extra exchanges. Because of the nature and complexity of the case, investigations are nonetheless ongoing.”

They added that they wrote to their US counterparts on Friday to hunt clarification, on condition that they’ve been in energetic communication relating to the case.

“Singapore will proceed to help the US authorities throughout the ambit of our legal guidelines and worldwide obligations,” mentioned the police.

US court docket data point out that Kwek was recognized to be residing in a flat in Choa Chu Kang North.

The US State Division mentioned Kwek has engaged in an “in depth scheme” to evade sanctions by the US and the United Nations by covertly transporting gasoline to North Korea.

“Kwek and his co-conspirators sought to obscure their identities and actions by conducting monetary transactions by means of a collection of shell firms,” it mentioned.

“He directed funds in US {dollars} that have been routed from his shell firms based mostly in Panama, Singapore and elsewhere, and thru US banks to pay for oil, the M/T Brave, companies and supplies for the vessel, and salaries for crew members.”