Why a Singapore-based Chinese fugitive on Interpol Red Notice was arrested in Indonesia

The notice does not give local police powers of arrest and member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to take action, experts say

Reading Time:3 minutes

Indonesian immigration officials hold Chinese fugitive Yan Zhangxing (centre) during a press conference in Jakarta on December 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 9:00pm, 10 Dec 2024Updated: 3:19pm, 11 Dec 2024

Singapore is neither obliged to arrest fugitives on Interpol’s Red Notice list nor is it conferred the power to so for those wanted by a foreign jurisdiction, according to experts.

Their comments centre on the arrest of a Chinese national on Interpol’s Red Notice list in Indonesia instead of Singapore, where he has permanent residence and is based.

Yan Zhenxing was detained last Monday by Indonesian authorities after he arrived at a ferry terminal on resort island Batam, located some 23km (14 miles) southeast of Singapore, having travelled there for a holiday, Indonesian media reported.

Yan is wanted by Interpol China for online gambling, and is suspected of being involved in a criminal gang that laundered money.

His arrest raised questions about how Yan, who is in his early 40s, had been living in Singapore while there was an Interpol Red Notice for him, and how the Indonesian immigration authorities were able to flag and arrest him while he was there.

According to the Interpol website, Red Notices are a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.