‘FUGITIVE’

Singapore Trader Wanted by the FBI Denies Helping North Korea Evade U.S. Sanctions

Accused of aiding a “blatant violation” of U.S. sanctions.

A Singapore trader wanted by the FBI for allegedly helping North Korean entities evade U.S. sanctions by laundering millions of dollars for them has denied “all charges” against him. Tan Wee Beng was called “a fugitive from American justice” Thursday by U.S. Federal Prosecutor Geoffrey Barman, and he stands accused of carrying out “illicit transactions totaling millions of dollars in support of North Korean entities in blatant violation of a host of economic sanctions.” Speaking to the BBC, Tan said he only learned about the charges against him on the news. “I found out only today through the internet. It came as a shock to me,” he said, adding that he denied all the accusations. The U.S. Treasury has placed sanctions on Tan and his companies. The U.S. and Singapore have an extradition treaty together but it doesn't include money laundering.