SINGAPORE: Singaporean Dickson Yeo experienced used for a array of authorities careers to entry facts that his foreign handlers would be intrigued in, the Inner Security Division (ISD) claimed on Tuesday night (Jun 15).

Before in the day, ISD declared that Yeo, 40, experienced been detained underneath the Inner Safety Act (ISA) considering the fact that Jan 29 for acting as a paid agent for a “foreign condition”.

Browse: Dickson Yeo detained less than ISA for making an attempt to give reviews on Singapore for ‘foreign state’

Whilst ISD did not identify the overseas point out, Yeo was past calendar year sentenced to 14 months’ prison in the US for spying for China versus the US.

ISD reported on Tuesday that Yeo carried out intelligence pursuits in opposition to Singapore from 2016 until finally his arrest in the US in 2019.

He was tasked to resource for data and present studies on problems of interest to his foreign handlers, such as data relating to Singapore.

“Toward this stop, he had approached several people today in Singapore in an try to receive information and facts for the purpose of crafting his reports,” ISD said.

Yeo also established up a front enterprise in Singapore as a protect for his info-accumulating things to do as very well as conducting recruitment for his overseas handlers. He also attempted, but unsuccessful, to get a occupation in the Singapore Govt, ISD stated.

“Yeo experienced experimented with to obtain employment in a selection of positions in the general public sector, positions and organizations that he thought would let him obtain to information of interest to his foreign handlers,” ISD said in response to queries from CNA.

“We are not able to supply precise aspects because of to operational and security reasons.”

Read: Singaporean Dickson Yeo jailed for 14 months in US for spying for China

Yet, ISD stated individuals trying to get to sign up for the general public sector in positions that involve accessibility to classified government facts will have to have safety checks.

“A number of elements are taken into consideration in the conduct of security clearance, like the nature of the work in the place, and the sensitivity of the info that the placement deals with,” it extra.

“Security checks will vary for various positions which have unique levels of accessibility to private details.  For operational motives, we are not able to go into the details.”

Categorized Info NOT COMPROMISED

Soon after Yeo admitted in a US courtroom in July final year to performing with Chinese intelligence officials to get sensitive information from Us residents, Singapore’s Ministry of Property Affairs explained its investigations into Yeo’s steps did not expose any immediate threat to Singapore’s stability.

ISD discussed that this assessment was based mostly on initial facts arising from Yeo’s arrest in the US final yr.

“Particulars on the extent of his things to do in relation to Singapore were surfaced only right after his arrest and investigation less than the ISA subsequent his return to Singapore,” it stated.

“On the other hand, our investigation showed that no categorised federal government info pertaining to Singapore had been compromised. Investigations are ongoing.