Filenews 26 August 2023
The files of the naturalizations as Cypriots of the two Chinese who were arrested on August 16 following an operation by the Singapore authorities for money laundering cases, were requested and received by the Police.
"F" reports that the files of the two Chinese were requested to determine whether offenses have been committed here as well, for violating the terms of their naturalization. As is well known, in order for a foreign investor or businessman to be naturalized as a Cypriot, he must meet certain conditions, while at the same time he undertakes not to take any acts or actions that expose the country that granted him its citizenship.
Following the announcement by the Singapore authorities of the arrest of 40-year-old Su Haijin and 34-year-old Wang Dehai, the Police, through the Crime Detection Department at the Police Headquarters, asked the Ministry of Home Affairs and received the files concerning the details of his naturalization, in order to examine a case here as well. The files have been handed over and are now being studied so that whatever emerges can be brought before the Attorney General for instructions.
In the meantime, so far the Singapore authorities have not contacted the Cypriot authorities with any request for legal assistance, nor have the Cypriot authorities requested information for the time being.
As we have been told competently, if there will be a request, it will probably be done at a later date and after the investigations in the Asian country have been completed. The issue is also being followed by the Ministry of Interior, which has announced an examination of the issue of stripping the two of their citizenship if there is a conviction in Singapore.
The two Chinese were arrested by authorities in the Asian country, along with eight other people, seven men and a woman. Haijin also faces the offence of resisting lawful arrest. Dehai has been charged with money laundering and millions of dollars in real estate and movable property. Singapore police said the 10 people had been arrested following a large-scale operation. It pledged assets amounting to one billion Singapore dollars (US$736 million). Luxury cars, bank accounts, cash and luxury goods were seized or frozen.
Su Haijin acquired Cypriot citizenship at the end of 2019 together with his wife. Wang Dehai, 34, received a passport in May of that year. Both are originally from China. They took advantage of the Cyprus Investment Programme to acquire European citizenship as investors.
It is noted that for both, no reference is made to the findings of the investigations conducted to identify the bad practices followed in the context of the program of exceptional naturalizations.
