TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

US request for Singaporean extradition legal: Prosecutor

The prosecutor in the trial of the US government’s request for the extradition of Singaporean Lim Yong Nam, who is accused of illegally exporting US-made radio modules to Iran, has recommended that the request be approved

Fadli (The Jakarta Post)
Batam
Fri, June 5, 2015

Share This Article

Change Size

US request for Singaporean extradition legal: Prosecutor

T

he prosecutor in the trial of the US government'€™s request for the extradition of Singaporean Lim Yong Nam, who is accused of illegally exporting US-made radio modules to Iran, has recommended that the request be approved.

In his extradition proposal statement, prosecutor Aji Satrio Putro said that the US government'€™s extradition request was in accordance with law no. 1/1979 on extradition.

'€œThe charges against Lim have nothing to do with politics or the military, so the extradition request can be approved,'€ Aji told the trial at the Batam District Court in Riau Islands province on Thursday.

Quoting a letter from a US judge, Aji said that Lim and his associates were guilty of committing conspiracy, trade cheating, smuggling and illegal export of US-made radio module products.

'€œFor his crimes, Lim Yong Nam could face 20 years'€™ imprisonment and a fine of US$ 1 million. For this reason, we ask the panel of judges to determine the extradition of Lim Yong Nam soon,'€ Aji said.

Through an interpreter, Lim told the judges that the US allegations against him had already been tried at the Singapore High Court in 2010.

'€œWe beg the panel of judges to consider the Singaporean court'€™s ruling, which declared me not guilty as charged,'€ Lim said.

Responding, presiding judge Cahyono said that the judges would give Lim and his lawyer Boy Kanu the chance to present a statement in response to the prosecutor'€™s statement on the extradition request.

'€œIf Lim Yong Nam would admit [the allegation], the trial could be finished quickly,'€ Cahyono said.

Lim, however, denied the allegations and told his lawyer to present a defense statement. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.

'€œThe trial will be held '€˜in marathon'€™ to speed up the decision-making process,'€ Cahyono said.

On Monday, sole judge Budiman Sitorus issued a ruling in favor of Lim in his case against the Riau Islands police and the Batam District Court with regard to his arrest and detention.

Following the ruling, Lim was released, only to be rearrested minutes later. Lim was one out of four Singaporeans accused of illegally exporting US-made radio modules, which were used in bomb-making, to Iran from America through Singapore.

The other three Singaporeans were Wong Yuh Lan, Lim Kow Seng and Benson Hia Soo Gan.

The case was revealed in October 2011, since when two of the accused have received rulings for extradition, but Lim was acquitted.

The US, however, insisted on Lim'€™s extradition for allegedly violating the embargo against Iran.

Lim was arrested by Batam immigration officers as he arrived from Singapore on board a ferry for a business trip in late 2014. He was subsequently handed over to the local police.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.