SO MANY "ILLEGAL" MONIES LINKED TO SINGAPORE HISTORICALLY?

 

According to the Malaysiakini news report “Tail on Jho Low over another RM1.9b” (Jul 10) – “In the latest report, the WSJ said Singapore police in a letter dated March 19 wrote to Malaysia’s central bank about US$529 million (RM2 billion) in deposits between 2011 and 2013 into a Singapore bank account controlled by Jho Low.

 

WSJ, which sighted the letter, said this was in response to Malaysian authorities asking Singapore for help in their investigation into 1MDB.”

 

 

According to the Straits Times news report “All eyes on banks’ response to allegations against Najib” (jul 6)  – “Malaysia’s central bank, Bank Negara, a well-regarded regulator in international banking circles, would normally be alerted to large transfers in domestic accounts, especially ones such as the alleged deposit via a Singapore-based Swiss bank of US$620 million in March 2013.”

 

 

In this connection, after a controversial video clip in 2013 – alleging that Sarawak Chief Minister TaibMahmud, a senior leader of Malaysia’s ruling BarisanNasional coalition, was involved in corruption. It was alleged that certain property transactions were done through Singapore to avoid paying Malaysia’s Real Property Gain Tax (RPGT).

 

In the video, Alvin Chong, a lawyer supposedly acting on behalf of Mr Taib’s family interests, said, “That’s why we choose Singapore. The Singapore Government has a China Wall… a firewall. They will not tell the Malaysian government, nothing… They [Malaysian government] ask them and they’ve been turned down… Sorry, it’s none of your business. They (Singapore) are the new Switzerland. Jurisdiction by choice for people like us.”

 

The video drew a strong response from MAS and MOF of Singapore (‘MAS & MOF: Allegation in video is simply false‘). The Singapore government responded, “The allegation is simply false. Contrary to what was claimed in the video, Singapore has to date provided fully the information requested by Malaysia for tax purposes.”

 

In addition, it said Singapore has designated a wide range of crimes as predicate offences to money laundering – including corruption, bribery and fraud. “Singapore therefore has been and remains able to provide mutual legal assistance to the fullest extent permitted under our laws where there are requests from Malaysia,” it said in a statement on 21 Mar, 2013.”

 

 

“Disgraced French Budget Minister JérômeCahuzac, had 15 million euros salted away in his secret Swiss bank account, a Swiss reporter claimed Sunday. And Cahuzac provided a fake tax certificate when he transferred the money to Singapore, reports say.” (“Disgraced budget minister had 15 million in Swiss account, report“, 7 Apr, 2013)

 

 

““Deutsche Bank Helped Customers maintain hundreds of offshore entities”

 

 

and “Ferdinand Marcos’ daughter tied to Offshore Trust in the Caribbean”

 

 

The story on Deutsche Bank alleges that more than 100 customer consultants at Deutsche Bank Singapore helped to create or manage 309 offshore entities for its clients.  Germans attempting to move their funds in Swiss Bank accounts to Singapore or to other tax havens through Singapore is not entirely news.  In October 2012, the German and Singapore governments agreed on a deal to tackle this problem.  The Singapore government agreed to designate tax crimes as “predicate offences” for money laundering.

 

… within the ICIJ website, the Singapore Link is beginning to throw up many other individuals.  The common feature is the involvement of Portcullis Trustnet.  ICIJ has done a piece on Trustnet:

http://www.icij.org/offshore/trusted-service-provider-blends-invisible-o... (“ICIJ’s Offshore Files: The Singapore Link?“, TR Emeritus, Apr 9)

 

 

“Rights group Earth Rights International says this has allowed the government to siphon off $5bn (£3bn) in revenue.

 

The money has reportedly been stashed in banks in Singapore, instead of being used to ease poverty in Burma.

 

Two Singapore banks named in the report also denied involvement.” (“Gas firms ‘prop up Burma’s junta‘”, 10 Sep, 2009)

 

 

“The Philippines’ claim on $23 million its late president Ferdinand Marcos had looted and held in trust at West Landesbank AG’s Singapore branch was dismissed by a Singapore Court.

 

Justice Andrew Ang dismissed competing claims by the Philippines, citizens who suffered human rights abuses during Marcos’s rule and five others seeking access to the funds kept in the branch.

 

He allowed a claim by the Philippine National Bank, controlled by Lucio Tan, because it has legal title to the funds, according to a 75-page decision made public today. West Landesbank asked Singapore’s High Court in 2004 to help determine the owners of the money, part of what the judgment said was $567 million in ill-gotten gains of the Marcos family and his aides in various bank accounts.

 

Marcos, who took power in 1965, was overthrown in 1986 and exiled from the Southeast Asian nation. In 2003, the Philippines Supreme Court ordered more than $658 million of Marcos’s assets to be returned to the country.

 

Singapore’s courts can’t recognize the Philippines’ claim, which was based on the 2003 verdict, as the funds were never in the Philippines, Ang wrote.” (“Philippines’ Claim on Marcos’s Singapore Funds Dismissed“, 15 Aug, 2012)

 

 

“Reports here said prosecutor ChingChi-jen would probe claims that the Chen family had transferred funds to Switzerland via the Singapore bank accounts of the ex-president’s brother-in-law Wu Ching-mao.

 

“Each country has similar rules on judicial assistence,” Ching said as he left, confirming he would meet the Singapore attorney-general’s office.” (“Chen Shui-bian investigated for money laundering“, 27 Aug, 2008)

 

 

“The 88-year-old president is undergoing intensive treatment for an unnamed condition in Singapore, according to the Zimbabwe Mail.

 

Mugabe, who has been in power 32 years, had been in Singapore to oversee his daughter Bona’s enrolment in a postgraduate course at Singapore University.

 

Other members of his family reportedly flew out by private jet yesterday to be at his bedside.

 

Mugabe is blamed for destroying Zimbabwe’s economy and plunging millions into poverty.

 

It is one of the world’s poorest countries with around three-quarters of the population living on less than £1 a day.” (“Sick dictator: Tyrant Robert Mugabe‘fighting for life in hospital‘”, 10 Apr, 2012)”

 

Historically, so many alleged “illegal” monies linked to Singapore?

 

 

Win battles lose war

A.S.S. Contributor