Fugitive lawyer Charles Yeo arrested in the UK, extradition hearing pending

Fugitive lawyer Charles Yeo Yao Hui, who absconded from Singapore in July 2022 while on bail for criminal charges, was arrested by the authorities in the United Kingdom on Nov 4.

This took place after Singapore sent a request to the UK in October 2023 seeking his extradition over an offence of abetment of cheating, in respect of funds released to his law firm which constituted a settlement sum for his client’s claim. 

In a statement to The Straits Times on Nov 13, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said: “The matter is now before the UK courts, and the UK Crown Prosecution Service will be following up on this in accordance with the UK laws governing extradition.

“As the matter is pending judicial proceedings, it would not be appropriate for us to comment on the matter.”

In January 2022, the former chairman of the Reform Party, then 31, was charged with wounding the religious feelings of the Christian community over remarks he allegedly made on his Instagram and Facebook pages.

He was also charged with posting a series of Instagram stories that contained abusive remarks about a specific police officer.

In July 2022, he was given permission to leave Singapore for Vietnam to meet a witness linked to a trial he was handling at the time.

He was then offered bail, with his mother acting as the bailor.

He was also allowed to leave Singapore and was supposed to return to the country in late July 2022.

But a district court heard on Aug 1 that year that he had not come back to Singapore.

He later stated in social media posts that he was seeking asylum in the UK.

His full bail amount of $15,000 was forfeited in September 2022.

Source: Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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