Singaporean held in Batam unaware he’s on Interpol list

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean man who was nabbed in Batam on Thursday (Oct 23) did not know he was on the Interpol Red Notice, his lawyer said. Lim Yong Nam, 40, was arrested at the Batam Centre Ferry Terminal when he tried to enter Indonesia.

Lim is reportedly wanted by the United States for allegedly smuggling electronic parts from the US to Iran, between 2007 and 2008.

Channel NewsAsia understands that Interpol Notices are not arrest warrants. According to Interpol, people listed on its Red Notices are wanted by national jurisdictions for prosecution, or to serve a sentence based on an arrest warrant or court decision.

But in 2012, the Singapore High Court had rejected the United State’s request for Lim’s extradition. The court said this was because Lim’s alleged wrongdoing in the US was not considered an offence in Singapore.

Lim and four other Singaporeans were accused by the US of smuggling. He was one of two Singaporeans who were not extradited to the US. The other two — Lim Kow Seng and Hia Soon Gan, Benson — were extradited and pleaded guilty last year in the US to conspiracy to defraud the US by dishonest means.

Lim’s lawyer, Mr Hamidul Haq, said that he is in touch with Lim’s family. Mr Hamidul, who represented Lim in 2012, said he would be acting for Lim. CHANNEL NEWSASIA