Singapore wants extradition of Briton for graffiti

Singapore said it will seek to extradite a British man accused of spray-painting a subway car with an alleged Swiss accomplice last month.

A court issued an arrest warrant for Lloyd Dane Alexander for allegedly breaking into a train depot and vandalizing a subway car on May 16 with Oliver Fricker of Switzerland, Singapore Police Force said Tuesday in a statement.

Police said Alexander fled Singapore and authorities will seek to extradite him, depending on the extradition treaty Singapore has with the country where he is eventually located.

Police declined to give details on Alexander's age, profession or possible whereabouts. He likely fled to Hong Kong, the Straits Times reported Tuesday without citing a source for the information.

A Singapore court charged Fricker, 33, with one count of trespassing and two count of vandalism Saturday. Fricker is free after posting bail of $100,000 Singapore dollars ($71,000). A preliminary hearing is set for June 21.

"Investigations disclosed that there is an accomplice who is at large," the police said. "He is a British national and left Singapore before the incident was repoted to the police."

Singapore has a well-earned reputation for severe punishments for minor crimes. Vandalism carries a fine of up to SG2,000 ($1,415) or up to three years in jail - in addition to three to eight strokes of a cane.

Singapore caned American teenager Michael Fey for vandalism in 1994 - ignoring pleas for leniency by then President Bill Clinton - in a case that drew international attention to the country's harsh punishments.