The UK High Court has dismissed the appeal by David James Roach against his extradition on a money laundering charge.
David James Roach is the suspect in the Standard Chartered Bank robbery which took place on 7 July 2016. Singapore has been working closely with various jurisdictions to secure Roach’s return to Singapore ever since his arrest in Thailand in July 2016. On 11 January 2018, Roach was deported from Thailand after serving his imprisonment term for the commission of criminal offences in Thailand, and arrived in London on 11 January 2018. Singapore then sought the assistance of the UK authorities to arrest Roach, with a view to securing his eventual extradition to Singapore.
In August 2018, the Magistrate sent the case to the UK Secretary of State to decide whether to extradite Roach to Singapore on two charges of robbery and money laundering. The UK Secretary of State ordered the extradition on 23 October 2018. On 31 October 2018, Roach applied to the UK High Court for permission to appeal against the Magistrate’s decision to send the case to the UK Secretary of State. The UK High Court refused Roach’s application on 13 August 2019.
In August 2019, Roach renewed his application to the UK High Court for permission to appeal. On 31 October 2019, the UK High Court granted Roach permission to appeal but limited this permission to his extradition on the money laundering charge.
On 4 February 2020, the UK High Court heard and dismissed Roach’s appeal.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers continues to work with the UK authorities on the final stages of Roach’s extradition to Singapore to face charges of robbery and money laundering. The Singapore Police Force is also working closely with the UK authorities to ensure that the extradition process is smooth and coordinated.
The Singapore authorities will do whatever is necessary and permissible within our legal framework to seek justice against those who commit crimes in Singapore, regardless of nationality and where they might have fled to. We will also not hesitate to take firm action against these individuals, and will seek an appropriate sentence if they are convicted.SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
13 February 2020 @ 10:30 AM