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SINGAPORE — Singapore has no “standard protocol” to consult the authorities of the countries that are receiving foreigners who are deported after being convicted of offences, said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam on Tuesday (Aug 6).
Singapore also generally does not disclose specific discussions, though talks may sometimes take place for operational security or intelligence reasons, he added, responding to a parliamentary question by Ms Sylvia Lim (WP-Aljunied).
Ms Lim had asked specifically about Chinese national Zhang Ruijin, one of the 10 people convicted in one of Singapore’s largest money laundering cases.
The 45-year-old was deported to Cambodia after serving time in Singapore. He was later expelled by Cambodia in July, just over a month after arriving there.
Ms Lim had also asked if Singapore has a “standard protocol” to consult the authorities of the intended receiving countries.
Mr Shanmugam confirmed that there is “no such standard protocol”, and noted that foreigners who are being deported can leave for any country that their passports allow them to go to.
“The foreign country can, as a sovereign state, choose to allow entry or it can choose to disallow entry when the person arrives on its shores. Or it can take subsequent actions to expel the person after entering,” he continued, adding that this would be “no different from any other traveller”.
Singapore did not discuss Zhang’s case with the Cambodian authorities, said the Home Affairs and Law Minister.
“The general position that my ministry takes about discussions with foreign governments on deportations is that we should not be disclosing this. It’s not in the public interest to disclose it,” he said.
For example, other people who are collaborating with the person of interest may get wind of the news, he added.
In a supplementary question, Ms Lim asked if the government was concerned that offenders would choose to be deported to a jurisdiction that they consider favourable to them, and whether it would take into account that offenders might choose a place that would facilitate them avoiding prosecution.
“They can choose to go where they want to go. The law allows them to go where their passports allow them to go to,” said Mr Shanmugam in response, noting that what happens to them in the receiving country is “legally irrelevant”.
With the “internationally transnational” nature of money laundering, Ms Lim then asked if Singapore would want to be interested in doing its part to ensure that offenders face justice.
The Home Affairs and Law Minister noted that Singapore is the chair of the Financial Action Task Force and takes this very seriously.
“But it’s wishful thinking to think that every other country will take the same approach, or that we can control how other countries can or cannot operationalise their legal position,” he continued.
Singapore also amended the Immigration Act in 2023 — when the changes are operationalised, the law will allow the government to decide where to send deportees, said Mr Shanmugam.
“But the only consideration cannot be what we think of the different legal systems. There’s got to be multiple sets of considerations.” CNA
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