MRT train vandalised

chobolan · Jun 4, 2010

Jun 4, 2010

MRT train vandalised
Man arrested; incident raises security concerns at restricted areas

 By Teh Joo Lin

A screen grab taken off YouTube showing the graffiti-painted train in service. A commuter had shot video footage of the train pulling out of Kembangan MRT station and posted it on the video-sharing website. The train plied its route for an unknown period of time, in full view of commuters. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

AN MRT train parked in a depot was hit with garish graffiti in what amounted to a serious security breach in a restricted area here. The vandal apparently sneaked into the sprawling depot at Changi, despite an array of barriers, including fences topped with barbed wire. Once inside, he spray-painted elaborate graffiti on one side of a train, across one carriage. The Straits Times understands that the vandal, a 33-year-old Swiss national, cut through the fence of the depot along Xilin Avenue, in what is believed to be the first such case of vandalism here.

[email protected]

Additional reporting by Kimberly Spykerman and Maria Almenoar

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

exSINgaporean · Jun 4, 2010

chobolan said:
Jun 4, 2010

MRT train vandalised
Man arrested; incident raises security concerns at restricted areas

 By Teh Joo Lin



A screen grab taken off YouTube showing the graffiti-painted train in service. A commuter had shot video footage of the train pulling out of Kembangan MRT station and posted it on the video-sharing website. The train plied its route for an unknown period of time, in full view of commuters. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

AN MRT train parked in a depot was hit with garish graffiti in what amounted to a serious security breach in a restricted area here. The vandal apparently sneaked into the sprawling depot at Changi, despite an array of barriers, including fences topped with barbed wire. Once inside, he spray-painted elaborate graffiti on one side of a train, across one carriage. The Straits Times understands that the vandal, a 33-year-old Swiss national, cut through the fence of the depot along Xilin Avenue, in what is believed to be the first such case of vandalism here.

[email protected]

Additional reporting by Kimberly Spykerman and Maria Almenoar

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

My God! This is NOT graffiti, this is ART!

The MRT authority should instead pay him to to all their trains!

Yue Ying · Jun 4, 2010

AN MRT train parked in a depot was hit with garish graffiti in what amounted to a serious security breach in a restricted area here.

The vandal apparently sneaked into the sprawling depot at Changi, despite an array of barriers, including fences topped with barbed wire.

Once inside, he spray-painted elaborate graffiti on one side of a train, across one carriage.

Yue Ying · Jun 4, 2010

The vandal is understood to be a 33-year old Swiss national.

He had to cut through the fence of the depot along Xilin avenue, in what is believed to be the first such case of vandalism here.

Graffiti-painted train plied its route for an unknown period of time, in full view of commuters.

One commuter shot video footage of the train pulling out of Kembangan MRT station and posted it on video-sharing website YouTube.

Yue Ying · Jun 4, 2010

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 4, 2010

Swiss man to be charged with vandalising train

Swiss man to be charged with vandalising train
By Surekha Yadav | Posted: 04 June 2010 2144 hrs
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SINGAPORE : A 33-year-old Swiss male national who is alleged to have broken into an SMRT depot and vandalising a train will be charged in court on Saturday. He faces a charge of trespassing into a protected place and two charges of vandalism. Police suspect the offences were committed between the late night of May 16 and the early hours of May 17.

On May 19, the police were informed that two carriages of the train parked at Changi Depot had been spray-painted with graffiti. They arrested the suspect on May 25. The offence of vandalism carries a punishment of imprisonment of up to three years or fine up to S$2,000, and caning of not less than three strokes and not more than eight strokes.

The offence of trespassing into a protected place carries a fine of S$1,000 or a jail term of two years, or both. The vandal is believed to have sneaked into the depot along Xilin Avenue and left after he had done the damage. All this went undetected even with the depot surrounded by fencing that was topped by barbed wires. Counter terrorism experts describe this as a "low-cost" lesson.

Professor John Harrison, counter-terrorism expert, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, said: "This could have been very serious. If you had somebody who, instead of being up to mischief, was up to more severe damage, the system could have been severely disrupted. "Lives could have been lost, perhaps if the person maybe knew what he was doing and had somehow damaged the equipment in other ways."

SMRT has stepped up security at all its depots. It is also working closely with the authorities to strengthen security at its perimeters, including additional surveillance and intrusion detection systems. Prof Harrison said: "Any review would have to determine exactly what systems were in place - why they didn't work and what systems need to be in place.

"And more importantly, they need to think laterally and think about what type of threats - both high-end and things that are just vandalism in this case - and what you need to protect, because remember - terrorists and criminals learn from each other. "And they also learn from people who have nothing to do with either one - any time there is a breach in the system anywhere for any reason, it exposes a weakness that could be exploited for nefarious ends."

Professor Antonio Rappa, counter-terrorism expert at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, added: "Singapore remains a target because of its success, because of our stability and we have become - like it or not - a symbol of neo-liberal capitalist achievement. And the terrorists are always looking out for success."

The train carriages have been scrubbed clean, but a video clip on YouTube showed the vandalised train filled with elaborate graffiti. The 27-second clip continues to attract eyeballs, as well as calls to plug the loopholes in security.

- CNA/al

Dodomeki · Jun 4, 2010

Police suspect the offences were committed between the late night of May 16 and the early hours of May 17.

Amazing. Today then report came out. :biggrin:

Yoshitsune Minamoto · Jun 5, 2010

Jun 5, 2010
More twists to the MRT tale

 By Maria Almenoar, Sujin Thomas & Teh Joo Lin

A screen grab of You Yuan's 27 second video of the train in service. As of last night, the video had garnered over 26,000 view on YouTube. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

 THE tale of the security breach at an MRT depot here took several twists yesterday: Police were told of it only two days after it occurred, and the Swiss national who left his mark on a train might not have been working alone. In a statement last night, police said the breach took place on the night of May 16 or early the next morning. It added that police were informed only on May 19, at 7.15pm.

The Straits Times reported yesterday that a YouTube video of the incident was posted online on May 18. That timeline of events meant the graffiti on the train, and the breach, went unnoticed for close to 48 hours. In its statement yesterday, police said the 33-year-old Swiss national who was arrested on May 25 will be hauled to court today to face charges of vandalism and trespass. It did not say why there was a time lapse between the breach and the police report.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of the Straits Times.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 5, 2010

Charge: Trespass, vandalism

Jun 5, 2010
Charge: Trespass, vandalism

 By Shuli Sudderuddin

A SWISS national who works here was charged in a criminal mentions court on Saturday with trespass and the vandalism of an MRT train at the Changi depot. Oliver Fricker, 32, a business consultant, was charged with cutting the fence of the depot and damaging public property. He was also charged with vandalism by spraying paint on two carriages of an SMRT train, and trespass by entering the Changi depot without permission. Also named on the charge sheet was British citizen Lloyd Dane Alexander.

It is not known if he is still in Singapore and the police are still investigating. Despite the barriers, including fences topped with barbed wire, the duo is believed to have cut through the fence of the depot, along Xilin Avenue. Once inside the depot, they spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train. The graffiti had the signature 'McKoy Banos', believed to be that of two persons who have vandalised trains elsewhere. The train later went into service for some time, in full view of commuters.The incident was reported to the police on May 19. Fricker was arrested about a week later.

Read the full report in The Sunday Times.

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 6, 2010

Swiss national charged

Jun 6, 2010
Swiss national charged

 By Shuli Sudderuddin

Oliver Fricker, 32, a business consultant, was charged with cutting the fence of the depot and damaging public property. --PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM

A SWISS national who works in Singapore was charged in court yesterday with trespass and the vandalism of an MRT train at the Changi depot.
Oliver Fricker, 32, a business consultant, was charged with cutting the fence of the depot and damaging public property. He was also charged with vandalism by spraying paint on two carriages of an SMRT train, and trespass for entering the Changi depot without permission some time between the late night of May 16 and the early hours of May 17.

Also named on the charge sheet was British citizen Lloyd Dane Alexander. It is not known if he is still in Singapore, and the police are still investigating.
The duo is believed to have cut through the fence of the depot along Xilin Avenue, although it was topped with barbed wire. Once inside the depot, they spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train. The graffiti had the words 'McKoy Banos', which is believed to be the signature of two persons who have vandalised trains in other countries too.

Read the full story in The Sunday Times.

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 7, 2010

Briton may have left for HK

Jun 7, 2010

MRT GRAFFITI CASE
Briton may have left for HK

It is not known exactly when British citizen Lloyd Dane Alexander left, but it was before SMRT reported the vandalism incident to the police. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

 THE Briton named in court documents for his involvement in spray- painting graffiti on an MRT train is believed to have left Singapore for Hong Kong. It is not known exactly when British citizen Lloyd Dane Alexander left, but it was before SMRT reported the incident to the police on the evening of May 19.

Police said the break-in at SMRT's Changi depot, located opposite the Singapore Expo, occurred some time late on May 16 into early the next morning. The train went into service for two days in full view of commuters before the mischief was reported.

Mr Alexander is said to have arrived here a few days before the incident. A Swiss national was arrested about a week later. Oliver Fricker, 32, a business consultant working in Singapore, was charged in court last Saturday with trespassing and vandalism.

Read the full story in Monday's edition of the Straits Times.
SUJIN THOMAS

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 7, 2010

Swiss monitoring graffiti case

Jun 7, 2010

MRT GRAFFITI CASE
Swiss monitoring graffiti case

Oliver Fricker (above) will appear for a second time in court on June 21 on charges of trespassing in a metro depot and vandalising a train, for which he could be jailed, fined and whipped with a wooden cane. -- PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM

 SINGAPORE - THE Swiss embassy said on Monday it plans to observe the court case of a citizen facing prison and caning for allegedly spray-painting graffiti on a Singapore metro train. Business consultant Oliver Fricker, 32, will appear for a second time in court on June 21 on charges of trespassing in a metro depot and vandalising a train, for which he could be jailed, fined and whipped with a wooden cane.

Peter Zimmerli, counsellor and deputy head of mission, told AFP the embassy would inform Fricker's family of the case, help him find a lawyer and visit him. 'Also, it is possible that this embassy attends court hearings as an observer,' the diplomat said. 'We do not, however, pay bails for our fellow citizens or interfere actively in a running law case.' A judge has impounded Fricker's passport and set bail at S$100,000, rejecting bis plea for a lower amount because prosecutors consider him a flight risk.

Zimmerli declined to confirm whether Fricker's family would be flying to Singapore. The court was told during the first session on Saturday that Fricker was with a Briton identified as Lloyd Dane Alexander when he broke into the depot, a restricted zone surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire. Sources familiar with the case told AFP that Alexander was in Singapore on a tourist visa and left before a police report was filed on May 19.

The Straits Times newspaper reported Monday that Fricker and Alexander spray-painted the words 'McKoy Banos' on one side of a train - believed to be the signature of two shadowy graffiti artists who have left similar marks on trains around the world. The train has been scrubbed clean but the clip taken by a commuter can still be viewed on YouTube. -- AFP

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 7, 2010

Swiss man charged with vandalising train released on bail

Swiss man charged with vandalising train released on bail
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 07 June 2010 2013 hrs
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SINGAPORE : The Swiss national arrested for allegedly vandalising a Singapore metro train with spray paint has been released on a S$100,000 bail.

It is believed that the passport of 33-year-old Oliver Fricker is still impounded to prevent him from leaving the country.

Fricker was charged in court on Saturday for vandalising an MRT train by spraying graffiti on it and damaging public property by cutting a wired fence.

The incident was said to have taken place between the late night of May 16 and the early hours of May 17 at the Changi Depot.

Fricker is said to have had an accomplice - British citizen Lloyd Dane Alexander. The Briton is believed to have left Singapore.

Vandalism is punishable by up to three years' jail or a maximum fine of S$2,000, plus three to eight strokes of the cane.

Fricker is scheduled to appear in court again on June 21.

- CNA/al

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 8, 2010

Arrest warrant out for second MRT vandal suspect

Arrest warrant out for second MRT vandal suspect
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 07 June 2010 2300 hrs
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SINGAPORE: A warrant of arrest has been issued for Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, the man suspected to be an accomplice of the Swiss national charged with vandalising an MRT train in Singapore.

In a statement released late Monday evening, the Police said that, in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers, it applied for the arrest warrant and this was granted by the Subordinate Courts. It added that Alexander remains at large. It has been revealed that he left Singapore before the incident was reported to the police.

Swiss national 33-year-old Oliver Fricker has been charged with vandalising an MRT train by spraying graffiti on it and damaging public property by cutting a wired fence. He was released on Monday after posting a S$100,000 bail. It is believed his passport is still impounded to prevent him from leaving the country.

The incident was said to have taken place between late night of May 16 and early hours of May 17 at the Changi Depot. SMRT reported the incident to police only on May 19. Fricker, a business consultant who worked in Singapore, was arrested on May 25. Reports said his accomplice, Alexander, may have fled to Hong Kong.

Vandalism is punishable by up to three years' jail or a maximum fine of S$2,000, plus three to eight strokes of the cane.

Fricker is scheduled to appear in court again on June 21.

- CNA/ir

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 8, 2010

Arrest order out

Jun 8, 2010
Arrest order out

 By Sujin Thomas in Singapore & Manik Mehta in Frankfurt

Swiss national Oliver Fricker, 32, was released from Changi Prison yesterday on $100,000 bail. He had been charged with cutting the fence of the depot and damaging public property as well as vandalising an SMRT train. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

 A WARRANT of arrest has been issued for the alleged accomplice of Swiss national Oliver Fricker, who has been charged with trespass and the vandalism of an MRT train at SMRT's Changi depot. In a statement yesterday, the police said that they had consulted the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and applied for a warrant of arrest for Lloyd Dane Alexander, which the Subordinate Courts had granted. The Briton, however, had left Singapore before the incident was reported to police on May 19. He is believed to have fled to Hong Kong.

The warrant came on the same day that Fricker was released on $100,000 bail while awaiting trial on charges that could see him jailed and caned. His passport has, however, been impounded to prevent him from leaving the country. Business consultant Fricker, 32, had been charged on Saturday with cutting the fence of the depot and damaging public property. He was also charged with vandalism by spraying paint on two carriages of an SMRT train, and trespass for entering the Changi depot without permission some time between late night on May 16 and the early hours of May 17.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 8, 2010

2nd suspect may be in HK

Jun 8, 2010

MRT VANDALISM
2nd suspect may be in HK
Facing arrest warrant, Fricker's alleged accomplice can be extradited: Lawyers

 By Sujin Thomas

Two individuals are believed to have cut through the barbed wire-topped fence of SMRT's Changi depot in Xilin Avenue and spray-painted 'McKoy Banos' on one side of two train carriages late on May 16. The train went into service for two days and was caught on video which was uploaded to YouTube. Swiss national Oliver Fricker, charged with trespass and vandalism, is out on bail of $100,000. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

THE alleged accomplice of Swiss national Oliver Fricker, who is accused of trespass and vandalism at SMRT's Changi depot, is said to have fled to Hong Kong. But Lloyd Dane Alexander, from Britain, can still be brought to Singapore even on a vandalism charge, lawyers told The Straits Times yesterday. The issue, they said, will depend on where the Briton - for whom a warrant of arrest was issued yesterday by the Singapore police - is caught and whether there is an extradition treaty between that jurisdiction and Singapore.

Lawyer Shashi Nathan said: 'Extradition is not dependent on the punishment but on the offence. As long as the deed is an offence in both (jurisdictions), extradition is possible.' Singapore has an extradition treaty with Hong Kong, which also cites vandalism as an offence. The second suspect may choose to fight the extradition but this may be difficult unless he can prove he has a defence such as diplomatic immunity.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 9, 2010

Staff thought it was artwork

Jun 8, 2010

MRT VANDALISM CASE
Staff thought it was artwork

 By Maria Almenoar & Teh Joo Lin

The reason: Staff who spotted the graffiti thought it was an advertisement or artwork, and brushed it off. It was only when the train was called in for routine maintenance on May 19 that the alarm was raised, it said. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

AFTER almost a week of silence, train operator SMRT on Tuesday revealed the scale of the security breach at its Changi train depot. For close to two whole days from May 17, it said in a statement on Tuesday, the company had no idea of the gaping hole in the perimeter fence at the depot, which consequently went unrepaired. And during this time, no staff member raised an alarm that a train had been vandalised.

The reason: Staff who spotted the graffiti thought it was an advertisement or artwork, and brushed it off. It was only when the train was called in for routine maintenance on May 19 that the alarm was raised, it said. Police had earlier said that two men allegedly broke into the depot late on May 16 or in the early hours of May 17. One, Swiss national Oliver Fricker, 32, was charged with vandalism and trespassing. He is out on bail. His employer, Swiss company Comit AG, has also suspended him.

The other, believed to be Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, is still at large. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. In its statement on Tuesday, SMRT said its staff noticed the graffiti on the two train carriages on May 17, but thought nothing of it.

Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.

Yukimura Sanada · Jun 9, 2010

SMRT says staff mistook graffiti on train for advert

SMRT says staff mistook graffiti on train for advert
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 08 June 2010 1844 hrs
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SINGAPORE: SMRT has explained why there was a lapse of two days before a police report was made about the train that was vandalised with graffiti. The company said its staff noticed the graffiti on the train on 17 May but did not sound the alarm as it was done artistically and they mistook it for an advertisement.

SMRT's deputy director for security and emergency planning, Choy Kin Chong, said: "They (staff) thought it was a commercial wrap, likewise several members of the public also spotted the graffiti but we did not receive any report." The alarm was raised two days later on 19 May at 4pm by maintenance staff when the train was recalled to the workshop for scheduled maintenance.

A police report was made then and investigations led to a discovery of the security breach at Changi Depot. SMRT said it immediately reviewed security measures in all its depots. The number of security personnel and patrols at each depot has increased, and security personnel instructed to step up their vigilance.

The number of security cameras will also be more than doubled, and there will be additional cameras installed at areas where the trains are launched daily at the depot. SMRT's Mr Choy said: "We intend to mount cameras and lighting system at the reception track so that for all the trains that depart the depot for service, we will be able to monitor the exterior part of the train."

Police have said that 33-year-old Swiss national, Oliver Fricker, and his accomplice, Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, had broken into the Changi Depot and spray-painted two train carriages between 17 and 18 May. Fricker was arrested on 25 May. The vandals had broken through a 3-km perimeter fence and cut through the wires to enter the depot. Once inside, they spray-painted graffiti on one side of a train.

There are trees in the background, which act as camouflage for the trespassers, and flood lights at the back which are said to have given the vandals ample lighting as they went about doing their work. Hence, going forward the perimeter fence will be strengthened with coiled barbed wires at the base.

SMRT's Mr Choy said: "The coiled wire will be able to strengthen the base of the fence, because of its construction, and it comes with razor-shaped blades...it will be very difficult for a potential attacker to cut the wire and even if they were to crawl in, they will probably incur some injury." SMRT is also considering the use of hi-tech detection and warning systems around its perimeter.

"At the moment the fence is not equipped with those surveillance and intrusion detection systems. With the incorporation of such systems we would be able to detect, perhaps even prevent a possible incursion in all our depots," said Mr Choy. SMRT also says that any intruder who attempts to sabotage the trains runs the risk of being electrocuted as the tracks which power the trains give out 750 volts of direct current.

When asked why it took about three weeks before news of the security breach was made public, Mr Choy said: "During the period the case was under police investigation and we could not reveal too much about the incident." Separately, the Swiss Embassy in Singapore told MediaCorp it is providing consular care to the accused, Oliver Fricker. This includes helping the business consultant find a lawyer and possibly observe court hearings.

It added that Fricker has to be considered innocent unless proven guilty. It said that Swiss nationals living or holidaying in Singapore are expected to obey the country's laws. "Nonetheless, certain punishments such as corporal punishment are foreign to Swiss legal conception," said Peter Zimmerli, counsellor and deputy head of mission at the Swiss Embassy.

Fricker is now out on a $100,000 bail. His employer, Comit AG, an IT consultancy firm, said Fricker is suspended, pending the outcome of investigations. A check on Fricker's Facebook page shows his profile has been taken off. The news has attracted international attention and is widely reported in the Swiss media.

The blogosphere has also been abuzz with comments, with many taking aim at the security lapse. One netizen said: "A normal guy like him can get into a restricted area, I wonder what a team of well-trained terrorists can do." Another netizen called it a "breach of security" and a "serious matter". A third netizen said, albeit tongue in cheek, "it is a beautiful spray-painting. But if he is going to paint it on my car, it would be courteous of him to ask for my permission first".

Meanwhile the hunt is still on for Fricker's accomplice, Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, who left Singapore before the incident was reported. He is believed to be in Hong Kong. If arrested, he can be brought back, as Singapore and Hong Kong have an extradition treaty. Police say they have also alerted all Interpol member countries to look out for Lloyd Dane Alexander and to give any information to Singapore, should he be found in their jurisdiction.

- CNA/ir

Yoshitsune Minamoto · Jun 9, 2010

MRT regrets lapse

Jun 9, 2010

MRT regrets lapse
Staff mistook graffiti for ad or artwork; alarm raised only after 2 days

 By Maria Almenoar & Teh Joo Lin

Breaking a nearly week-long silence on the incident, SMRT said that inaction on its part led to a delay in alerting the authorities. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

 SMRT workers did not react to glaring graffiti on two carriages because they brushed it off as an advertisement or artwork, the train operator said yesterday. Consequently, a serious breach in the perimeter fence of its Changi depot - a hole opened either late on May 16 or in the early hours of May 17, according to police - went undiscovered for almost two full days. Breaking a nearly week-long silence on the incident, SMRT said that inaction on its part led to a delay in alerting the authorities.

Meanwhile, the train was allowed to run in full view of train users for that length of time, leading to a YouTube video posted by a commuter. The gaffe was admitted yesterday by SMRT's chief executive Saw Phaik Hwa, who apologised for the 'serious lapse'. In its statement, SMRT said its staff noticed the graffiti on the two train carriages on May 17, but thought nothing of it.

The first time someone noticed that something was amiss was at 4pm on May 19, when the train pulled into SMRT's workshop for routine maintenance. Given the seriousness of the breach, SMRT has been asked to give a full account of what happened to the police and the Land Transport Authority, said the Ministry of Transport in response to queries yesterday from The Straits Times.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.

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Additional reporting by Sujin Thomas

Guile · Jun 9, 2010

Update: S'pore launches manhunt for alleged British vandal

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</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="content_subtitle" align="left"> Wed, Jun 09, 2010
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Update: S'pore launches manhunt for alleged British vandal

S'pore Police Force has alerted all Interpol member countries to look out for the accomplice. -AFP
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</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3" class="bodytext_10pt">  SINGAPORE - Singapore on Tuesday launched a global manhunt for a Briton suspected of involvement in a train vandalism case that raised doubts about the security of key installations in the city state.

A warrant of arrest was issued against Lloyd Dane Alexander, a British citizen accused of being the accomplice of a Swiss business consultant, 32-year-old Oliver Fricker, who is now on bail in Singapore.

Both men could face jail, fines and caning for allegedly breaking into a protected subway depot and spray-painting elaborate graffiti on a parked train in May. The prank is regarded as a serious breach of security in Singapore, which says its transport system is a potential terrorist target.

"Police have also alerted all the Interpol member countries to look out for the said accomplice and to render us information should he be found in their jurisdiction," a police spokesman said Tuesday after the warrant was issued. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is based in Lyon, France and facilitates cross-border police cooperation, including hunting down fugitives from justice.

Sources familiar with international manhunts said the Singapore police will decide their next move only after receiving information about Alexander's whereabouts. Any extradition proceedings will have to be launched at the diplomatic level, they said.

The Swiss suspect, Fricker, posted 100,000 Singapore dollars (71,000 US) bail on Monday but his passport has been impounded to prevent him leaving Singapore during his trial. Police officials said Alexander left Singapore before the incident was reported to the authorities.

They declined to comment on local media reports that the British national may have flown to Hong Kong. Singapore's Straits Times has suggested that Fricker and Alexander could be part of a group of underground graffiti artists targeting metro trains around the world.

Vandalism is punishable by up to three years' jail or a maximum fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars, plus three to eight strokes of a wooden cane - a practice dating back to British colonial rule in Singapore.

In addition to the vandalism charge, Fricker faces two years' jail or a fine of 1,000 dollars, or both, for trespassing into a protected area. The train has been scrubbed clean but the clip taken by a commuter can still be viewed.

Singapore's vandalism laws became global news in 1994 when an American teenager, Michael Fay, was caned for damaging cars and public property despite appeals for clemency from the US government.
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