Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SINGAPORE803
2007-04-24 11:01:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
(S) GOS RELEASES DETAINED STEEL PLATES TO SHIPPER
how-toVZCZCXRO4860 OO RUEHGH DE RUEHGP #0803/01 1141101 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 241101Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2949 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2491 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0759 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4019 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI PRIORITY 0059
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000803
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/CPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, ETTC, MTCRE, IR, CH, KN, PK, SN
SUBJECT: (S) GOS RELEASES DETAINED STEEL PLATES TO SHIPPER
REF: A. STATE 4238
B. SINGAPORE 127
C. 06 STATE 196624
D. STATE 16106
Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000803
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/CPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, ETTC, MTCRE, IR, CH, KN, PK, SN
SUBJECT: (S) GOS RELEASES DETAINED STEEL PLATES TO SHIPPER
REF: A. STATE 4238
B. SINGAPORE 127
C. 06 STATE 196624
D. STATE 16106
Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Summary: Singapore on April 23 released a
shipment of chromium-nickel steel plates to the shipper on
the condition that the company would return the plates to
China (refs A and B). Singapore Customs had been holding the
shipment since November 8, 2006 at USG request. MFA
officials told us that, following a thorough investigation,
they had been unable to confirm that Iran's Shahid Hemmat
Industrial Group (SHIG) was the intended recipient of the
plates or that the plates were intended for use in Iran's WMD
development program. Exhaustive interagency discussions had
further determined that Singapore had no legal basis to
continue to detain the plates. MFA also provided updates on
two other outstanding export control cases and briefly raised
Singapore's recent seizure of Iran-bound rocket fuel
precursors. End summary.
Steel Plates to Iran
--------------
2. (S/NF) During an April 24 meeting, Michelle Teo-Jacob,
Deputy Director of MFA's International Organizations
Directorate, informed us that, after several months, the GOS
had exhausted every option under Singapore law and had
released a shipment of steel plates detained since November
8, 2006 at USG request. (Note: Singapore originally agreed
to hold the shipment only until November 24, 2006. End
note.) Teo-Jacob said that Singapore had enough concerns
about their potential end-use that it had conditioned release
of the steel plates on their being returned to their source.
The agent will send the plates to Shanghai, from where they
will be returned to the company that originally shipped them.
Teo-Jacob agreed to provide information that would help
track the shipment and later told us the plates are expected
to depart Singapore for Shanghai on April 24 aboard the
"Pretty River." ETA in Shanghai is May 8.
Grinding Machines to North Korea
--------------
3. (S/NF) Teo-Jacob said that Singapore Customs had
completed its investigation into USG information that
Singapore-based Lam Seng Hang Co. Pte. Ltd. was working to
procure computer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding
machines on behalf of the DPRK firm Daesong General Trading
Corporation (ref C). Teo-Jacob said that while Customs had
determined that Lam Seng Hang does a significant business
exporting non-industrial goods to the DPRK, it uncovered no
evidence that the company had attempted to ship CNC grinding
machines. Singapore Customs, under the pretext of industry
outreach, met with Lam Seng Hang and informed the company of
Singapore's obligations under UNSCR 1718 and also explained
the scope of the Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation
Act (INKSA). Teo-Jacob said that Singapore Customs had put
the company on notice that it would monitor its activities.
Aluminum Rods to Pakistan
--------------
4. (S/NF) According to Teo-Jacob, Singaporean firm Ace
Pressureweld (ref D) had rebuffed Singapore Customs attempts
to approach it under the pretext of industry outreach. The
GOS was now determining how best to proceed with its
investigation. This was the first time a Singaporean company
had refused to comply with a Singapore Customs request, which
Teo-Jacob said only raised GOS concerns about its business
operations.
Iran Unhappy about Chemicals Seizure
--------------
5. (S/NF) Teo-Jacob said that Singapore Customs was in
the process of offloading twenty containers of chemicals it
believes violate UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 from an Iran-bound ship
that diverted to Singapore on April 21. She explained that
port officials were concerned about the hazardous nature of
the chemicals and planned to house the containers in a
specialized warehouse. She noted that the incident prompted
some "saber rattling" from the Iranian Government, but said
the GOS understood its international obligations superseded
its bilateral relationship with Iran.
SINGAPORE 00000803 002 OF 002
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/CPI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017
TAGS: KNNP, PARM, PREL, ETTC, MTCRE, IR, CH, KN, PK, SN
SUBJECT: (S) GOS RELEASES DETAINED STEEL PLATES TO SHIPPER
REF: A. STATE 4238
B. SINGAPORE 127
C. 06 STATE 196624
D. STATE 16106
Classified By: E/P Chief Ike Reed for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (S/NF) Summary: Singapore on April 23 released a
shipment of chromium-nickel steel plates to the shipper on
the condition that the company would return the plates to
China (refs A and B). Singapore Customs had been holding the
shipment since November 8, 2006 at USG request. MFA
officials told us that, following a thorough investigation,
they had been unable to confirm that Iran's Shahid Hemmat
Industrial Group (SHIG) was the intended recipient of the
plates or that the plates were intended for use in Iran's WMD
development program. Exhaustive interagency discussions had
further determined that Singapore had no legal basis to
continue to detain the plates. MFA also provided updates on
two other outstanding export control cases and briefly raised
Singapore's recent seizure of Iran-bound rocket fuel
precursors. End summary.
Steel Plates to Iran
--------------
2. (S/NF) During an April 24 meeting, Michelle Teo-Jacob,
Deputy Director of MFA's International Organizations
Directorate, informed us that, after several months, the GOS
had exhausted every option under Singapore law and had
released a shipment of steel plates detained since November
8, 2006 at USG request. (Note: Singapore originally agreed
to hold the shipment only until November 24, 2006. End
note.) Teo-Jacob said that Singapore had enough concerns
about their potential end-use that it had conditioned release
of the steel plates on their being returned to their source.
The agent will send the plates to Shanghai, from where they
will be returned to the company that originally shipped them.
Teo-Jacob agreed to provide information that would help
track the shipment and later told us the plates are expected
to depart Singapore for Shanghai on April 24 aboard the
"Pretty River." ETA in Shanghai is May 8.
Grinding Machines to North Korea
--------------
3. (S/NF) Teo-Jacob said that Singapore Customs had
completed its investigation into USG information that
Singapore-based Lam Seng Hang Co. Pte. Ltd. was working to
procure computer numerically controlled (CNC) grinding
machines on behalf of the DPRK firm Daesong General Trading
Corporation (ref C). Teo-Jacob said that while Customs had
determined that Lam Seng Hang does a significant business
exporting non-industrial goods to the DPRK, it uncovered no
evidence that the company had attempted to ship CNC grinding
machines. Singapore Customs, under the pretext of industry
outreach, met with Lam Seng Hang and informed the company of
Singapore's obligations under UNSCR 1718 and also explained
the scope of the Iran, North Korea, Syria Nonproliferation
Act (INKSA). Teo-Jacob said that Singapore Customs had put
the company on notice that it would monitor its activities.
Aluminum Rods to Pakistan
--------------
4. (S/NF) According to Teo-Jacob, Singaporean firm Ace
Pressureweld (ref D) had rebuffed Singapore Customs attempts
to approach it under the pretext of industry outreach. The
GOS was now determining how best to proceed with its
investigation. This was the first time a Singaporean company
had refused to comply with a Singapore Customs request, which
Teo-Jacob said only raised GOS concerns about its business
operations.
Iran Unhappy about Chemicals Seizure
--------------
5. (S/NF) Teo-Jacob said that Singapore Customs was in
the process of offloading twenty containers of chemicals it
believes violate UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 from an Iran-bound ship
that diverted to Singapore on April 21. She explained that
port officials were concerned about the hazardous nature of
the chemicals and planned to house the containers in a
specialized warehouse. She noted that the incident prompted
some "saber rattling" from the Iranian Government, but said
the GOS understood its international obligations superseded
its bilateral relationship with Iran.
SINGAPORE 00000803 002 OF 002
HERBOLD