SINGAPORE, March 18 – Singapore has expressed its disspointment over US Senators’ actions to block funding to the republic’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) following the death of an American engineer, Shane Todd. In a statement, a Foreign Affairs Ministry’s spokesman said: “We are deeply disappointed by the Senators’ actions and statements.
“The Senators had requested the FBI to be given “full access” to all the evidence in the investigation conducted by the Singapore Police Force over the case, based on the version of the facts provided by the family alone, ” said the Spokesman.
The spokesman said this in response to media queries on the Senators’ introduction of a measure to block US funding to Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) until the US Attorney General certifies that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has full access to all evidence and records relevant to Todd’s death.
The spokesman said the Singapor Police Force has so far refrained from publicising the information they have gathered because investigations are ongoing. Todd, 31 was found hanged in his Singapore apartment in June 2012. His parents rejected a Singapore Police Force’s finding that Todd committed suicide.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the spirit of cooperation and openness, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam met Senator Baucus in Washington DC on March 12, 2013, and told the Senator that the
Singapore Police Force was prepared to share relevant evidence with the FBI in accordance with the legal framework of both countries.
It said the Minister reiterated this at a press conference after the meeting. The Singapore Police Force has also publicly committed to take into account any information and evidence that the FBI may independently gather. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Singapore Police Force will ensure that all information is comprehensively examined and scrutinised during their investigation, and have done so through foreign experts, the FBI.
The Singapore Police Force will continue to work with the FBI to engage the Todd family to get their co-operation and assistance for the on-going investigation. Shanmugam also pointed out that IME was subject to rigorous internal audits.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said IME was prepared to have a team from the United States to conduct a process audit to satisfy itself of this.
“Singapore has made every effort to be open and transparent in both the investigation of Mr Todd’s death and the IME’s projects. We will let the outcome of the investigation and Coroner’s Inquiry speak for themselves,” the spokesman added.
BERNAMA
