Actions Taken Against Persons in Singapore Wanted on Interpol Red Notices

Questions:

Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Government keeps track of the presence of persons in Singapore who have become the subject of Interpol Red Notices; (b) how many of such person currently are (i) Singapore Citizens and (ii) Permanent Residents (PRs); and (c) in the case of such PRs, what is the Government’s approach towards their PR status.

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there are individuals who are currently wanted persons on Interpol’s Red Notice residing in Singapore and, if so, what is the number of such individuals; (b) what levels of monitoring or investigations are imposed on such persons; and (c) whether the requesting member countries or the individuals’ country of citizenship are notified of their presence in Singapore.

Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority conducts checks against the various Interpol notices, including Red Notices, as part of the routine process for assessing citizenship, permanent residency and work permit applications; and (b) what action is taken if a match is found.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. The Police closely monitor INTERPOL Notices.

2. An INTERPOL Red Notice is not an arrest warrant, but an international alert for a wanted person published at the request of a member country. Hence, an INTERPOL Red Notice does not confer the Police with powers to arrest a fugitive wanted by a foreign jurisdiction. The Police would only be able to do so pursuant to an extradition request made under an extradition treaty.

3. 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. Depending on the evidence, their 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 the above circumstances. 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.

4. All new applications and renewals for immigration facilities are screened against available adverse information. The presence of any adverse information, including INTERPOL Red Notices, are considered during the assessment.

5. As at December 2024, about 80 individuals linked to Singapore are traced to INTERPOL Red Notices. About half of them are Singaporeans. About half of them are not in Singapore. We are unable to share more details as such information comes from INTERPOL and the issuing countries.

6. Where the issuing country of an INTERPOL Red Notice has contacted us, our relevant authorities cooperate with them within the ambit of our laws. We may also contact them proactively if we have significant security concerns, or there is sufficient evidence that offences might have been committed under our laws.