SINGAPORE - After more than three decades on the run, former NTUC president and Member of Parliament Phey Yew Kok was back in court on Wednesday to face charges first read to him in 1979.
Phey had jumped bail and fled Singapore in 1980 to escape charges for misuse of union funds.
He had been charged with four counts of criminal breach of trust involving $83,000 on Dec 10, 1979.
Back then, he was also charged with two counts under the Trades Unions Act for investing $18,000 of trade union money in a private supermarket without the approval of the minister.
All six charges were re-read to Phey, who is now 81, on Wednesday.
He had turned himself in at the Singapore Embassy in Bangok, Thailand, on Monday. Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officers escorted him back to Singapore on Tuesday night.
The prosecution has applied for him to be remanded at Changi Prison for investigations, and more charges will be tendered against him.
A pre-trial conference has been set for July 23.
In response to media queries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday: "Phey Yew Kok was facing charges of Criminal Breach of Trust when he absconded while on bail in 1980. He has now turned himself in and returned to Singapore.
"He has been charged in court, and the law will have to take its course. This will bring closure to a long outstanding case involving a person who was holding public office as an MP and a senior union leader."
The National Trades Union Congress noted in a statement that Phey had surrendered himself to the authorities, and that "we must now let the law take its course".
NTUC notes that Phey Yew Kok has surrendered himself to the authorities. We must now let the law take its course.
The CPIB said that Phey, who absconded on Jan 7, 1980, has been produced in court to face the charges that were served on him in 1979.
After he was released on bail, Phey failed to turn up in court on Jan 7, 1980, and a Warrant of Arrest was subsequently issued against him on the same day.
In a statement, the CPIB said Phey "will be required to assist CPIB in further investigations in relation to other offences he may have committed".
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