MR PHEY YEW KOK (Steps to secure return to Singapore to stand trial)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs what further progress has been made by the police to obtain or secure the return to this country of the former President of the National Trades Union Congress to stand trial upon the charges instituted against him and on which he jumped bail or have the police closed their file on this and given up all efforts to find him and bring him back.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the Member for Anson that the warrant of arrest against Phey Yew Kok is still very much in force. Phey Yew Kok remains on the wanted list of all Interpol affiliated countries, and the alert for his arrest on sight is still on.

The Police and CPIB are in constant contact with the Interpol authorities in an effort to locate Phey Yew Kok. To-date they have not received any information on his present whereabouts.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question for the Minister. Would the Minister recall that when I raised this question some months ago, his answer was that Mr Phey Yew Kok was in hiding in one of our neighbouring countries and, for some reason or another he could not tell this House which neighbouring country it was. May I know what is the position now? Is he still in one of these neighbouring countries, or has he disappeared from one of these neighbouring countries?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said in my reply, we have no information of his present whereabouts - the word is "present" whereabouts. As for the question which I was asked last year, I think it was exactly 12 months ago, the answer is that he has disappeared from that country. Perhaps, as a result of the debate in Parliament, he might have taken note of it and made himself scarce.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Would the Minister state quite clearly to this House or outline the various steps that have been taken by the police to trace this man, instead of contenting himself with a general answer saying that all steps are being taken? May this House be informed of the precise steps that have been taken by the police?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as a lawyer, the Member for Anson should know that if a wanted man is in one of the countries outside Singapore, the Singapore Police has no jurisdiction to go to that country and make the arrest, they have to depend on the cooperation of the police force of that country.

I have stated quite clearly in my answer that the way to go about it, ie, to get the cooperation and help of the police force of other countries to apprehend a wanted criminal, is to contact Interpol and Interpol can get the countries which are affiliated to Interpol to help in the apprehension of the wanted criminal.

What more does the Member for Anson expect us to do? I have stated in my reply that we are in constant contact with the police authorities of the affiliated countries where we think he might be taking refuge.

Mr Ho See Bong (Khe Bong): Could the Minister tell this House how strong is the possibility that the fugitive MP has disappeared from our neighbouring country because of our debate in this Parliament about his running away from Singapore?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: I cannot say how strong it is. But what I can say is that there is a possibility because my reply states that we have information that he is taking refuge in a neighbouring country. So any intelligent or not-so-intelligent fugitive will take note of it and make himself scarce.

Mr Jeyaretnam: As I said, would the Minister recall his statement to this House about this man hiding in a neighbouring country? We all know we are surrounded by ASEAN countries. Is the Minister saying that he is not getting cooperation from these governments in an attempt to trace this man?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have never stated that we are not getting cooperation. I stated that we have to depend on their cooperation. And even if the authorities of the countries want to cooperate, it is not easy to apprehend a fugitive from justice.

Mr Jeyaretnam: If I wrote to Interpol, would the Minister agree to Interpol releasing to me all the efforts that have been made by them on behalf of the Singapore Police Force? If I wrote to them, would he agree with that?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, we do not represent Interpol. And we also do not control the freedom of action of the Member for Anson. So my answer is quite obvious. He can write to Interpol if he likes. How can the Government of Singapore or the Singapore Police Force interfere with his freedom of action?

An hon. Member: He wants your approval!

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Does he need my approval?

Mr Jeyaretnam: All I want is a straight answer from the Minister. May I say to Interpol that the Government of Singapore has no objections to their disclosing to me all efforts that they have made on behalf of the Government to trace this man? May I have a straight answer to that question?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I can say yes, I certainly would like to see the contents of that letter. In what way is the letter phrased? I repeat my answer - I have no control over the actions of Interpol, neither have I control over the actions of the Member for Anson. Is that not an obvious and clear answer?

Mr Jeyaretnam: We are now getting some straight answers from the Minister. He says that if I tell him what I want to know, then he will consider giving me a reply. What I want to know from Interpol is: what steps have they taken over the last four or five years on behalf of the Singapore Government to trace this man, and would they make public to me what has been done? Would the Minister say whether he will object to them disclosing all this to me?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: If those are the words which are recorded in Parliament, I would say that I have no objections.

Mr Jeyaretnam: He has no objections. Thank you.