EU sanctions second S’pore firm over alleged links to Russia’s military efforts

A second company based in Singapore has been sanctioned by the European Union over its alleged links to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Splendent Technologies, which is headquartered in Singapore and has a presence in Hong Kong, is described as a wholesale dealer of electronic components.

In a report in February, the EU listed dozens of firms it sanctioned after accusing them of being part of Russia’s military and industrial complex.

According to the report, the firms have commercial links to or are supporting Moscow’s defence and security sector by contributing towards Russia’s military and technological enhancement.

Splendent Technologies says on its website that it had suspended quotations and business with Russia due to sanctions by the White House against the Kremlin.

The EU has imposed a range of sanctions against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

They include economic and individual sanctions, as well as visa and diplomatic measures that EU members have to adhere to.

The EU has also established bilateral and multilateral cooperation with non-EU countries to ban the export of specific goods to Russia, and a transit ban on certain goods being exported from the EU to a non-EU country via Russian territory.

The ban covers dual-use goods as well, including drones and engines and software for drones, thermographic cameras, encryption devices, and semiconductors and advanced­ electronics.

Splendent Technologies was added to the list on Feb 25.

In the report, the EU accused the firm and other entities on the list of supporting the technological enhancement of Moscow’s defence and security sector with dual-use goods and technology.

Splendent Technologies is the second company registered in Singapore to be sanctioned since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Deflog Technologies, a company located in Shaw Road dealing in security and optical products, including night vision goggles, was sanctioned in 2023.

Business records in Singapore show Splendent Technologies has three registered directors, comprising two Chinese nationals and a Singaporean who runs a corporate service provider (CSP) firm.

Firms registering in Singapore are required to appoint a Singaporean as director.

Splendent Technologies describes itself as a parts distributor dealing in automotive, motor control, healthcare, instrumentation and measurement, process control, and computers and peripheral equipment.

The firm says on its website that it occupies unit 04-05 in Ang Mo Kio Techplace II.

The Straits Times visited the address on March 4 and learnt that the unit has been occupied by ASTI, a tech group servicing semiconductor firms located next door, for a number of years.

ASTI, on its website, lists its address as unit 04-06.

An employee of ASTI said the company has occupied the two units since she joined the firm four years ago. She added that she has not heard of Splendent Technologies.

Singapore business records show Splendent Technologies is registered to a unit in King George’s Building.

ST visited the address on March 4 and found that it was occupied by Singapore Millennium Bridge International, a CSP.

Mr Eugene Tan, a director of the CSP, said that Splendent Technologies is his client but added that he has not met any of its employees since the business was incorporated in 2021.

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

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