Suspicious "suicide" of American in SG

[zzm9980]

OSOD would absolutely *love* this one. And does anyone think this one will be picked up by local media? hah

Some bright American kid was working on a contract in Singapore for ITE. It was a technical project for ITE and Huawei (Chinese Telecom that has received accusations from several Western Governments of spying/being Chinese Military front) for some technology that was 'very' dual use commercial/military. At some point the guy felt very uncomfortable by the project, concerned he may be violating US law as an American, and left the project. He got a better job offer in the states, was packing up and all ready to go home...

And then was found dead just after his last day on the job. Singaporean police (this is where I wish OSOD was still around!) quickly ruled it a suicide (ain't no foul play here!). When his parents arrived at his house though, they found no signs of the suicide scene described by police. This wasn't something that could be quickly patched; he allegedly drilled holes into the marble wall to rig a pulley to hang himself. No holes found. Autopsy photos shown to forensic investigators indicate he struggles and was strangled, not hung. Police took his laptop and mobile phone, but parents found a backed up hard drive in his unit that the police missed with more interesting evidence.

The US Consulate said the FBI offered numerous times to assist in the investigation, but have been blocked by the Singapore police.

So, conspiracy? Singapore helping PRC cover this up? Or incompetence in being unable/unwilling to see this as a potential high profile killing on Singaporean territory by a foreign power? Or overly bereaved parents seeing shadows?

Here's the full report, decide and discuss...

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/afbddb44 ... z2L2LkOnA0

[curiousgeorge]

Yeah I saw this earlier and couldn't find any local press reporting of the incident...seems a bit fishy...

[nakatago]

It sounds like broom-lift-carpet. Laziness, it seems. Didn't even try to make a plausible crime scene or claims to corroborate the 'evidence.'

[sundaymorningstaple]

Also, even more funny, normally after something like this comes out in the foreign press, there is an almost instant rebuttal by the government here and then followed by threats of lawsuits like the AWS affairs, So far, mum. Something smells rotten in Denmark, methinks.

[zzm9980]

This is really starting to get widely reported in the US press, especially tech sites. I wouldn't be surprised to hear random lawmakers make random calls for investigations into the ties between Singapore and China. It likely won't go far, but I expect to hear noise.

[x9200]

Foul play or some possible incompetency seems so obvious that the main question should be why it is so obvious?

[morenangpinay]

the conspiracy between china and sg hmm not hard to believe...considering sg is almost siding with china or playing safe in the china territorial claims...


also they want foreigners to be taxed for this? shoddy police work?

[movingtospore]

I'm more inclined to believe that the SP police force just don't have a f-ing clue than I am in a conspiracy with the Chinese. I figure, like a lot of locals, they would just say no to anything outside of a,b,c and d. If we can't conceive of it, it can't be true...

That said, I'd also believe that is just a case of some poor guy in bad way, and a bereaved family looking for answers when there never are any when it comes to suicide.

But the Sing gov't plotting with the chinese to murder an american and cover it up? Bah. Seems pretty unlikely.

Truth is stranger than fiction tho.

[zzm9980]

That said, I'd also believe that is just a case of some poor guy in bad way, and a bereaved family looking for answers when there never are any when it comes to suicide.

One thing that caught me that makes me suspect the above was a reference to that external drive:

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/afbddb44-7640 ... z2LDurT0Mi

Hours later, in the middle of the night, someone went into Shane’s hard drive and accessed five folders, all labelled IME. That happened quickly, between 3.40am and 3.42am on Saturday, June 23. Since the time of Shane’s death is uncertain, Massoud could not say who looked at the IME files.
But Massoud found activity, again, on several more IME files on the night of June 27, three days after Shane’s body was found. He said someone looked at IME folders – including one labelled “Supervisorâ€Â

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's been picked up by CBS so let's see where it goes from here...

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162- ... espionage/

[sensei_]

nothing a good old conspiracy theory to harbour some hate amongst their citizens eh

[JR8]

nothing a good old conspiracy theory to harbour some hate amongst their citizens eh

Which brought to mind the film 'Wag the dog'...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120885/?ref_=sr_1

'After being caught in a scandalous situation days before the election, the president does not seem to have much of a chance of being re-elected. One of his advisers contacts a top Hollywood producer in order to manufacture a war in Albania that the president can heroically end, all through mass media.'

Hit the 'watch trailor' button to get a flavour...

[zzm9980]

Wag the Dog is a great movie.

Singapore Police officially invited the FBI to assist. I wonder if this was due to US or local pressure.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 13194.html

Sorry if you don't have WSJ login. Can Google the title I believe for a link to the full article.

[zzm9980]

http://nyti.ms/ZyQDE7

Mr Shanmugam is in DC meeting US Senators and the Attorney General about this case.

This will probably (and rightfully) piss off locals now that they see the parents of an FT can get the gahmen to change course on a dime, but they cant as a group.

[nakatago]

http://nyti.ms/ZyQDE7

Mr Shanmugam is in DC meeting US Senators and the Attorney General about this case.

This will probably (and rightfully) piss off locals now that they see the parents of an FT can get the gahmen to change course on a dime, but they cant as a group.

Considering China is suspecting of creatively obtaining military assets...

...hell, nevermind...the mouth-breathers would not be able to comprehend the implications anyway.

I got that Dennis Leary song playing in my head right now.