Singaporean on US blacklist over ties with Myanmar
junta
By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY | Posted:
27 February 2008 1517 hrs
A Singaporean woman and her husband, who is
allegedly the son of a drug lord, have entered the United States'
blacklist for "providing support" to Myanmar's ruling junta.
Ms Cecilia Ng Sor Hong, the wife of Myanmar national Tun Myint
Naing, also known as Steven Law, owns 10 companies here — all of
which will be affected by US trade sanctions. Two of her trading
companies, Golden Aaron and S H Ng Trading, are based in an office
block at Shenton Way.
The US sanctions ban Americans from doing business with blacklisted
companies and designated individuals. The US government also seeks
to freeze any assets that these blacklisted companies may have
under US jurisdiction.
Apart from his "critical support" for the military junta, the US
Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also
accused Mr Tun of being part of a drug empire his father, Mr Lo
Hsing Han — dubbed the "Godfather of Heroin" by OFAC — had set up
in the early 1970s. Mr Tun is also one of the wealthiest
individuals in Myanmar, added the OFAC.
The OFAC named the three individuals yesterday under additional
economic sanctions that were announced in the wake of the junta's
crackdown against monk-led protests late last year.
When Today visited Ms Ng's Shenton Way office premises yesterday,
an employee said her employer and Mr Tun were both overseas. The
employee said she was aware that her company was blacklisted.
In December 2004, Golden Aaron made the news here when the small
firm clinched a energy exploration deal to explore the coast off
Myanmar with two other non- Singaporean companies.
A check with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
showed that the company, set up in October 1995, has a paid-up
capital of $5 million. The other shareholder was listed as a Mr Lo
Ping Zhong, one of the many alias that, according to the OFAC, Mr
Tun apparently uses.
Earlier this month, the United States also sanctioned Myanmar
national and Singapore Permanent Resident U Kyaw Thein, 60, as
among those linked to Tay Za, the junta's alleged "henchman".
Two companies, with offices here, and a Singaporean company, Pavo
Aircraft Leasing, were also named in the sanctions.
Singapore and its banks have been previously pressured by the
United States to cut financial ties with the junta.
When contacted, a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
spokesperson said that "banks and financial institutions in
Singapore are required to institute strict procedures". "Should
there be links with illicit activity, MAS will not hesitate to take
necessary action," the spokesperson said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs told Today that the Central Narcotics
Bureau has not received any information that "a Singapore company
has been targeted under US sanctions against Myanmar for
involvement in illicit drug trade".
The ministry said that any "credible information received on
suspected drug trafficking by persons in Singapore will be
thoroughly investigated and offenders prosecuted". -
TODAY/sh
But the most shameful thing is that we execute those small-time
drug traffickers while we fraternize with the drug lords.