The Claim that Sarawak Dirty Money is Hidden in Singapore

Background

Global Witness, an international NGO, has caught on video, a conversation with a Kuching-based lawyer, Alvin Chong who claimed that transactions have been done in Singapore to avoid real property gain tax.

Citations

Global Witness

Video of the sting operation.

Yahoo! Singapore

"GW: Is there no communication between Singapore and here?
Chong: That's why we choose Singapore. The Singapore government has a China Wall... a firewall. They will not tell the Malaysian government nothing.
GW: Is that because the Malaysian government don't ask them?
Chong: They ask them but they've been turned down. Sorry, it's none of your business... They are the new Switzerland. We operate Singapore accounts too, both personal and corporate entities."

New York Times

"For $650 more, A&P offered to open a bank account to stash my fledgling operation’s money in Singapore — a country, the Web site also noted, that “cannot gather information on foreigners’ bank accounts, bank-deposit interest and investment gains under domestic tax law.”"

Comments

In long term, it is politically unwise and economically unsound to allow criminals to stash their money in Singapore. The reputation of Singapore as an orderly, law-abiding country is being damaged.

The Wikileaks Revelation of Singapore

Thanks to Wikileaks, we know what the diplomats were thinking

Background

"The United States diplomatic cables leak, widely known as Cablegate, began in February 2010 when WikiLeaks—a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers—began releasing classified cables that had been sent to the U.S. State Department by 274 of its consulates, embassies, and diplomatic missions around the world." [Wikipedia]

Citations

Wikileaks: Singapore Embassy

Original Wikileaks cables

Diary of Singaporean Mind

Summary of interesting facts about Singapore from Wikileaks. "Deliberate lack of transparency in Temasek Holdings", "Govt does not want more Singaporeans to have degrees", "Lack of independence of Singapore judiciary in political cases", "Sustainablility of Singapore economic model", "Singapore's uncaring elite", "Frustration among Singapore journalists over govt control"

Comments

The content of the cables indicate that the 'internal' policies can be different than 'external' policies which are known to the public. The cables also suggest that public perception is affected by the lack of information available to the masses.

The AIM Town Council Saga

Issue broke after Aljunied-Hougang GRC was taken over by Workers Party

Background

"Ms Lim also asked earlier why the 14 PAP town councils, which had developed the system, had transferred the ownership to AIM, a third party. In fact, it was revealed by Ms Lim that the system was sold to AIM in Jan 2011 and the TCs would then lease back from AIM which was registered as a $2 company"..."AIM offered to buy the software for $140,000 and manage the system for a monthly fee of $785 per TC or $10,990 for the 14 PAP TCs:" [TRE]

Citations

Yahoo! News Singapore

"Which party wanted to terminate AIM contract first?"

The Real Singapore

"Interesting History of AIM Pte Ltd"

TR Emeritus

"Hence, in the current 5-year Govt term till 2016, AIM would stand to make $10,990 x 60 months = $659,400. It’s not bad for a $140,000 initial investment, giving a return of 371%!"

Comments

Questions are being asked about transparency in Singapore. Businesses will also worry about the perceived disadvantage in finding business opportunities while competing with companies such as AIM.

The Treatment of Lynn Lee

Lynn and James from Lianain Films

Background

Lynn Lee is a film director from Lianain Films. She interviewed two PRC bus drivers who went on strike. The two PRC bus drivers complained of ill treatment in their interviews. Lynn was then subjected to much questioning too.

Citations

Lianain Films

"It was during this interview that I started wondering seriously if I, rather than the alleged perpetrators, was the one being investigated."

Asian Correspondent

"What – or who – are the police actually investigating here?"

Comments

This story does not give a good impression of the police in Singapore.

The Pursuit of Dan Tan Seet Eng

One of only two circulated photos of Dan Tan via TNP

Background

Dan Tan was accused of "fixing hundreds of football matches around the world." [BBC] "Dan Tan is still free somewhere in Singapore," [BBC]

Citations

TNP

"The New Paper obtained the latest edition of the Cremona investigation papers, which chronicle Tan’s alleged involvement in the rigging of 33 matches in Italy’s top two leagues, Serie A and Serie B, over the last two years."

BBC

"Neither the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Singaporean police or the country's anti-corruption agency would speak to me about match-fixing."

SCMP

"The head of Interpol yesterday urged Singapore to move against one of its citizens who is considered to be a key suspect in global football match-rigging, after one of his alleged associates was arrested in Italy."

Comments

This is another challenge for the legal system, specifically the police to be seen as upholding justice and not condoning criminals.

The Death of Shane Todd

Shane Todd in Singapore via Financial Times

Background

Shane Todd was an American engineer who worked at IME, Singapore. He was found dead but his family was not satisfied with the investigation handled by the Singapore police.

Citations

Financial Times

“Are you saying the Singapore police are corrupt?” ... "[Shane's father] said he wasn’t accusing the police of corruption; he was accusing them of mishandling the investigation."

New York Times

"The real reason for his death? Their son may have known too much about plans for a research project apparently involving the Institute of Microelectronics, a Singapore government research agency where he worked, and Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, to co-develop a device powered by gallium nitride, they believe."

CNN

Video of news. "CNN's Miguel Marquez looks at the possibility that Shane Todd was murdered."

Shane Todd Justice Petition

Facebook page with updates on the case

Comments

This story serves as a cautionary tale to people who work in sensitive industries. It is also a test for the Singapore legal system, specifically the police.