A 32-year-old North Korean national, Li Hyon, was convicted of four counts of breaches of Regulation 5(a) read with Regulation 16(1) of the United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010, and section 109 of the Penal Code (Cap. 224), and punishable under Section 5(1)(a) of the United Nations Act on 23 June 2020. He was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment. 10 other similar charges were taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing.
Investigations by the Commercial Affairs Department revealed that between 17 September 2014 and 5 January 2017, the accused had abetted two Singapore companies - T Specialist International (S) Pte Ltd and SCN Singapore Pte Ltd - to supply designated luxury items to the DPRK on 14 occasions. Li Hyon served as the contact liaison between the buyer in DPRK and the two Singapore suppliers. On three of these occasions, he also personally hand-carried the prohibited luxury items to the DPRK. The prohibited luxury items supplied on the 14 occasions include wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics and precious jewellery, valued at about $400,000.
On 22 November 2019, T Specialist International (S) Pte Ltd pleaded guilty to 10 counts of breaches of Regulation 5(a) read with Regulation 16(1) of the United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010, and punishable under Section 5(1) of the United Nations Act. It was fined $380,000 for the breaches. The court proceedings for SCN Singapore Pte Ltd are ongoing.
The United Nations (Sanctions – DPRK) Regulations 2010 prohibits any person in Singapore or citizen of Singapore outside Singapore from supplying, selling or transferring, directly or indirectly, any designated export item or designated luxury item to any person in the DPRK. The offence under the United Nations Act for breaching these regulations carries a jail term for up to 10 years and/or fine of up to $500,000 (in the case of an individual) or $1 million (in any other case).
Anyone with information relating to such transactions should immediately call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
Singapore takes its obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions seriously. We will not hesitate to take action against any individual or entity that breaches our laws and regulations.SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 June 2020 @ 2:25 PM