(S) M/V GANT STAR: OFFER OF ASSISTANCE DELIVERED

S E C R E T SINGAPORE 001871 SIPDIS SIPDIS ISN FOR EDNA SIDLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017 TAGS: ETRD ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM PREL SN IR SUBJECT: (S) M/V GANT STAR: OFFER OF ASSISTANCE DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 129214 ¶B. SINGAPORE 1409 ¶C. STATE 57239 ¶D. SINGAPORE 1258 ¶E. CLAUSEN-SIDLER E-MAILS Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) We delivered information listed Ref A on October 9 to Tan York Chor, Director of MFA's International Organization's office. Tan thanked us for the offer of assistance and zeroed in on the question of evidentiary requirements. The case at hand would present no problem as long as the GOS could prove in court that the owner or end-user was a UNSCR-designated entity. Otherwise, restrictions vis-a-vis sources would complicate the issue, he said. Singapore hopes to find other means, such as documentary evidence, to confirm that Parchin Chemical Industries Group is the intended end-user. ¶2. (S) Tan did not state directly that the GOS had determined ownership of the cargo, but said that the Iranian entity "did not appear to have paid for the goods." He also indicated that the Chinese shipper had asked about the sodium perchlorate, and that the GOS could only justify continuing to hold the chemical because of the ongoing investigation. If it holds the chemical for "too long" the shiper could take legal action, he said. ¶3. (S) The GOS is still interested in prosecuting the shipper, but it also wants to ensure a legal victory. Losing such a case would set a bad precedent, Tan said. He thanked the USG for its offer of to help defray costs, but said it would not be appropriate for the GOS to accept financial assistance for the storage or eventual disposition of the cargo. ¶4. (S) Per Ref E, we did not at this time raise the issue of specific shipping information that might allow Singapore to develop a parallel construction of evidence. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm HERBOLD