A Singaporean businessman wanted by the US for violating sanctions on North Korea is currently in the city-state, where he is under investigation, Singaporean police said.
In a statement issued late on Saturday, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said they have sought clarification from their US counterparts over the reward, as they have kept them informed about the ongoing probe by local authorities.
The US Department of State on Thursday offered US$5 million for information on businessman Kwek Kee Seng, blaming him for numerous fuel deliveries to North Korea, ship-to-ship transfers and money laundering through front companies.
Photo: AP
Federal prosecutors in New York last year issued an arrest warrant for Kwek, a year after one of his oil tankers, the M/T Courageous, was seized by Cambodia on a US request over purported sanctions violations.
Kwek, 62, owns the Singapore-based shipping company Swanseas Port Services Pte Ltd.
The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program said that his exact location was not known and that he has also been identified as being in North Korea, Cambodia, Taiwan and Thailand, as well as Cameroon and the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
However, Singapore’s police said in a statement that “Kwek is presently in Singapore.”
He has been under investigation since April last year by Singapore’s Commercial Affairs Department — the city-state’s white-collar crime investigation agency — and his passport has been impounded.
The Singapore police said the investigation was launched after the US Department of Justice announced a criminal complaint had been filed against Kwek for “allegedly conspiring to evade economic sanctions” on North Korea and for money laundering.
The police added that they have shared information about their investigation of Kwek with US law enforcement authorities.
“Since then, there were several more exchanges. Due to the nature and complexity of the case, investigations are still ongoing,” the police statement said.
“On 4 November 2022, the SPF wrote to our US counterparts to seek clarification, given that we had been in active communication with our US counterparts on Kwek’s case,” it said.
“Singapore will continue to assist the US authorities within the ambit of our laws and international obligations,” it added.
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