MFA director-general facing charges over use of diplomatic bags allowed to visit Tokyo
Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, a director-general of Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
https://tdy.sg/47JGhKL
SINGAPORE — A director-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) who has been charged over the use of diplomatic bags for Panadol and luxury watches was granted permission by a court on Thursday (Jan 25) to leave the country to visit Tokyo, Japan.
Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, 45, faces three charges which include deceiving MFA, abetting such deception and providing false information to a public servant.
He allegedly concealed from MFA that a package containing boxes of Panadol sent to Beijing from Singapore in December 2022 was for his personal acquaintance.
He is also accused of instigating an MFA colleague to dispatch a package containing branded watches from China to Singapore via the diplomatic bag service in January 2023.
That same month, he allegedly lied to a deputy secretary at MFA, stating that the branded watches in the above package belonged to his father.China
Oh is represented by Mr Shashi Nathan and Ms Harjeet Kaur from Withers KhattarWong.
Ms Kaur obtained permission from the court for Oh to visit Tokyo from Jan 28 to Feb 20.
The purpose of the trip was for leisure, according to court records.
Oh wants to "explore and negotiate the possible sale and/or purchase of property in Tokyo", to visit his pottery master, who is "of old age and remains frail", and to visit his partner's family.
The judge granted the request, but imposed several conditions.
Oh must provide additional bail of S$10,000 and the bailor must provide monetary security. This is on top of Oh's existing bail of S$10,000.
Oh must also furnish his complete travel itinerary to his investigating officer before leaving.
In addition, Oh must provide the full details of where he would be staying, as well as contact numbers before he leaves.
He must remain contactable by the investigating officer and his bailor cannot travel with him.
When Oh returns to Singapore, he must surrender his passport to the investigating officer within 24 hours.
According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomatic bags are used to send documents or items for official use. Under the convention, diplomatic bags cannot be opened or detained. The bags must "bear visible external marks of their character".
Oh's case is set for a further mention on Feb 22.
If found guilty of cheating, Oh could be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both. He could also be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both if he is convicted of lying to a public servant. CNA
