AFP, Singapore, 10 Feb 2012 – A Singapore judge Friday allowed the extradition to the United States of four Singaporeans accused of illegally selling US-made radio components to Iran that ended up in Iraqi roadside bombs.
The judge ordered the four committed to prison pending an extradition order by Singapore Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who is also the foreign minister.
The US government immediately welcomed the decision even though the four electronics company employees, who strongly denied they knowingly violated US laws, were given 15 days to contest the judge’s ruling.
‘This ruling reflects the strong spirit of cooperation between the United States and Singapore in combating transnational crime, including the illicit trade in arms and equipment that can pose significant threats to the United States and the international community,’ said US Ambassador David Adelman.
A US embassy statement said the four had been charged in the United States with violations of US laws relating to fraud involving the ‘unlawful export from the United States of military antennas and radio frequency modules.’
The four suspects were all in the electronics parts distribution business when they were arrested in October.