Singapore police explain why they did not arrest Chinese fugitive on Interpol Red Notice

Police said they do not have sufficient evidence to investigate the alleged money launderer, who was arrested when he travelled to Indonesia

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Indonesian immigration officers escort recently-arrested Chinese national Yan Zhenxing, during a press conference in Jakarta on December 5. Yan is on Interpol Red Notice list and wanted in China on allegations of laundering money for an online gambling syndicate. Photo: AP

Published: 1:40pm, 12 Dec 2024Updated: 4:28am, 14 Dec 2024

Authorities in Singapore do not have sufficient evidence that a Singapore-based Chinese fugitive who was arrested in Indonesia had committed money-laundering offences, the local police said, explaining why his detention occurred in Batam rather than within the city state.

The police’s comments were in reference to the case of Yan Zhenxing, a Chinese national in his early 40s who is a Singapore permanent resident and on Interpol’s Red Notice list.

Yan was detained on December 2 by Indonesian authorities after he arrived at a ferry terminal on the resort island of Batam, located some 23km (14 miles) southeast of Singapore, having travelled there for a holiday, Indonesian media reported.

The case has sparked discussion around why Yan was not arrested in Singapore but only when he travelled to Indonesia.

Responding to queries from This Week in Asia, the Singapore Police said on Thursday: “To date, we do not have enough evidence that Yan may have committed money-laundering offences under Singapore’s laws, that would allow us to commence formal investigations against him.”

When Yan was granted Singapore permanent residency, there were no Interpol Red Notices against him, they added.