About 80 individuals linked to S'pore traced to Interpol Red Notices, half are S'poreans

As of December 2024, about 80 individuals linked to Singapore are traced to The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) Red Notices.

The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, said about 40 of these are Singaporeans.

This was in response to written parliamentary questions by Worker's Party (WP) Members of Parliament Sylvia Lim, Louis Chua and He Ting Ru.

Lim asked if the government keeps track of the presence of persons in Singapore who have become the subject of Interpol Red Notices and how many such persons are Singapore Citizens or permanent residents.

Chua asked if there are individuals who are currently wanted persons on Interpol's Red Notice residing in Singapore and if so, how many there are and what levels of monitoring or investigations are imposed on such people.

He Ting Ru asked if the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducts checks against various Interpol notices, including Red Notices, as part of the routine process for assessing citizenship, permanent residency and work permit applications.

Shanmugan stated that the police closely monitor Interpol notices.

Not an arrest warrant

Shanmugam explained that an Interpol Red Notice is not an arrest warrant; instead, it is an international alert for a wanted person published at the request of a member country.

As such, the Interpol Red Notice does not grant the police the power to arrest a fugitive wanted by a foreign jurisdiction. The police could arrest a fugitive according to an extradition request made under an extradition treaty.

"Nevertheless, we will take action against such persons, if there is sufficient evidence against them to take action in Singapore, and if the offences are such that action can be taken in Singapore," said Shanmugan.

He added that depending on the evidence, the individuals' immigration facilities may also be revoked if they are foreigners.

"When an individual with links to Singapore is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, we will keep the individual under close watch, and commence investigations. In addition, if such persons who are foreigners are deemed to be an immediate threat to the safety and security of Singapore, we will take action to remove them from Singapore, including declaring them as prohibited immigrants."

Red Notices

Out of the 80 individuals linked to Singapore traced to Interpol Red Notices, about 40 are Singaporeans.

In addition, about half of them are not in Singapore.

Shanmugam said that the government is unable to share more details as these information comes from Interpol and the issuing countries.

On Interpol's website, there are five public Red Notices for individuals wanted by Singapore for various crimes:

• 59-year-old Poh Yuan Nie is wanted for abutment to commit cheating.
• 43-year-old Muhammad Ridzuan Bin Johan is wanted for murder.
• 39-year-old Muhammad Faidhil Bin Wawi is wanted for murder.
• 53-year-old Neo Soon Joo is wanted for armed robbery and abduction.
• 62-year-old Siak Lai Chun is wanted for embezzlement.

Top photo via Google Maps