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New Paper
5 days ago
- New Paper
Audrey Fang case: Spanish judge blocks suspect's deportation to S'pore over death penalty concerns
An attempt by Spanish immigration authorities to deport Mitchell Ong, the suspect in the fatal stabbing of fellow Singaporean Audrey Fang in Spain, was blocked by a local court over death penalty concerns. As such, it is unlikely for the 44-year-old to face the death penalty if charged with murder, as a murder charge in Spain carries a jail sentence ranging from 15 years to 25 years. News of the deportation request being blocked was first reported by Spanish daily La Opinion de Murcia on May 28. The deportation request was made by Spain's General Commissariat for Aliens and Borders, a national police agency that manages immigration and border control matters, and was supported by the lawyer representing Ms Fang's family. However, a judge ruled that Ong did not meet the criteria outlined in Spain's laws pertaining to the expulsion of foreigners, one of which states that immediate deportation can take place if an individual has been charged with a crime and is given a jail sentence of fewer than six years, or given an alternate sentencing, such as a fine. As the minimum jail sentence for Ong's potential murder charge is 15 years, he does not meet this criterion. Ong's lawyer, Ms Maria Jesus Ruiz de Castaneda, had told The Straits Times earlier in May that she is opposing the request. If the deportation had gone through, the Spanish immigration authority had also requested that Ong be banned from returning to Spain for 10 years. Ms Ruiz de Castaneda had also earlier told Spanish media that an expulsion would be a violation of the rule of law and international treaties Spain has signed and ratified. "He is involved in ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain, where he must be tried with due process," she said. "Expulsion would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the principle of non-refoulement and Spain's commitments against the death penalty." She had previously called for the case to be dismissed, saying all necessary evidence had to be examined and that Ong "firmly and consistently" insisted he did not kill Ms Fang. The 39-year-old architect was found dead near a parking lot for lorries in the town of Abanilla on April 10, 2024. She left Singapore on April 4 to travel alone to Xabia in the Valencia region of Spain, and was supposed to return eight days later, but became uncontactable on April 10. Her body was found with knife wounds and head trauma. Ong was arrested six days later. Testimonies from two of Ms Fang's friends on June 26, 2024, said that Ms Fang and Ong had met on a social dating network, with her family's lawyer saying that she had told her friends she was meeting the former insurance agent during her holiday in Spain. In March, La Opinion reported that DNA from two men was found on her clothes, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in her death. Ong meanwhile was also found to have been nominated as the sole beneficiary of Ms Fang's Central Provident Fund savings, with the accounts reportedly containing about $498,000. ST has contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs for comment.
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- AsiaOne
Audrey Fang case: Spanish judge blocks suspect's deportation to S'pore over death penalty concerns, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — An attempt by Spanish immigration authorities to deport Mitchell Ong, the suspect in the fatal stabbing of fellow Singaporean Audrey Fang in Spain, was blocked by a local court over death penalty concerns. Thus, it is unlikely that the 44-year-old will face the death penalty if charged with murder, as a murder charge in Spain carries a jail sentence ranging from 15 years to 25 years. News of the deportation request being blocked was first reported by Spanish daily La Opinion de Murcia on May 28. The deportation request was made by Spain's General Commissariat for Aliens and Borders, a national police agency that manages immigration and border control matters, and was supported by the lawyer representing Ms Fang's family. However, a judge ruled that Ong did not meet the criteria outlined in Spain's laws pertaining to the expulsion of foreigners, one of which states that immediate deportation can take place if an individual has been charged with a crime and is given a jail sentence of fewer than six years, or is given an alternate sentence, such as a fine. As the minimum jail sentence for Ong's potential murder charge is 15 years, he does not meet this criterion. Ong's lawyer, Ms Maria Jesus Ruiz de Castaneda, had told The Straits Times earlier in May that she is opposing the request. If the deportation had gone through, the Spanish immigration authority had also requested that Ong be banned from returning to Spain for 10 years. Ms Ruiz de Castaneda had earlier told Spanish media that an expulsion would be a violation of the rule of law and international treaties Spain has signed and ratified. "He is involved in ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain, where he must be tried with due process," she said. "Expulsion would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the principle of non-refoulement and Spain's commitments against the death penalty." She had previously called for the case to be dismissed, saying that all necessary evidence had to be examined and that Ong "firmly and consistently" insisted he did not kill Ms Fang. Ms Fang, a 39-year-old architect, was found dead near a carpark for lorries in the town of Abanilla on April 10, 2024. She left Singapore on April 4 to travel alone to Xabia in the Valencia region of Spain, and was supposed to return eight days later, but became uncontactable on April 10. Her body was found with knife wounds and head trauma. Ong was arrested six days later. Testimonies from two of Ms Fang's friends on June 26, 2024, said Ms Fang and Ong had met on a social dating network. Her family's lawyer said she had told her friends she was meeting the former insurance agent during her holiday in Spain. In March, La Opinion reported that DNA from two men was found on her clothes, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in her death. Ong, meanwhile, was also found to have been nominated as the sole beneficiary of Ms Fang's Central Provident Fund savings, with the accounts reportedly containing about $498,000. ST has contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs for comment. [[nid:714914]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Singapore Law Watch
5 days ago
- Singapore Law Watch
Audrey Fang case: Spanish judge blocks suspect's deportation to S'pore over death penalty concerns
Audrey Fang case: Spanish judge blocks suspect's deportation to S'pore over death penalty concerns Source: Straits Times Article Date: 29 May 2025 Author: Aqil Hamzah As such, it is unlikely for the 44-year-old to face the death penalty if charged with murder, as a murder charge in Spain carries a jail sentence ranging from 15 years to 25 years. An attempt by Spanish immigration authorities to deport Mitchell Ong, the suspect in the fatal stabbing of fellow Singaporean Audrey Fang in Spain, was blocked by a local court over death penalty concerns. As such, it is unlikely for the 44-year-old to face the death penalty if charged with murder, as a murder charge in Spain carries a jail sentence ranging from 15 years to 25 years. News of the deportation request being blocked was first reported by Spanish daily La Opinion de Murcia on May 28. The deportation request was made by Spain's General Commissariat for Aliens and Borders, a national police agency that manages immigration and border control matters, and was supported by the lawyer representing Ms Fang's family. However, a judge ruled that Ong did not meet the criteria outlined in Spain's laws pertaining to the expulsion of foreigners, one of which states that immediate deportation can take place if an individual has been charged for a crime with a jail sentence fewer than six years, or given an alternate sentencing, such as a fine. Ong's lawyer, Ms Maria Jesus Ruiz de Castaneda, had told The Straits Times earlier in May that she is opposing the request. If the deportation had gone through, the Spanish immigration authority had also requested that Ong be banned from returning to Spain for 10 years. Ms Ruiz de Castaneda had also earlier told Spanish media that an expulsion would be a violation of the rule of law and international treaties Spain has signed and ratified. 'He is involved in ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain, where he must be tried with due process,' she said. 'Expulsion would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the principle of non-refoulement and Spain's commitments against the death penalty.' She had previously called for the case to be dismissed, saying all necessary evidence had to be examined and that Ong 'firmly and consistently' insisted he did not kill Ms Fang. The 39-year-old architect was found dead near a parking lot for lorries in the town of Abanilla on April 10, 2024. She left Singapore on April 4 to travel alone to Xabia in the Valencia region of Spain, and was supposed to return eight days later, but became uncontactable on April 10. Her body was found with knife wounds and head trauma, and Ong was arrested six days later. Testimonies from two of Ms Fang's friends on June 26, 2024, said that Ms Fang and Ong had met on a social dating network, with her family's lawyer saying that she had told her friends she was meeting the former insurance agent during her holiday in Spain. In March, La Opinion reported that DNA from two men was found on her clothes, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in her death. Ong meanwhile was also found to have been nominated as the sole beneficiary of Ms Fang's Central Provident Fund savings, with the accounts reportedly containing about $498,000. ST has contacted the Ministry of Home Affairs for comment. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Singapore Law Watch
05-05-2025
- Singapore Law Watch
Spanish police ask for suspected killer of Audrey Fang to be deported to Singapore
Spanish police ask for suspected killer of Audrey Fang to be deported to Singapore Source: Straits Times Article Date: 04 May 2025 Author: Lok Jian Wen If request is approved, he could face murder trial in S'pore, and possible death penalty. Mitchell Ong, the suspect in the fatal stabbing of fellow Singaporean Audrey Fang in Spain, faces being deported to be tried in Singapore, after the Spanish immigration authorities submitted the request to a court. His lawyer, Ms Maria Jesus Ruiz de Castaneda, told The Straits Times she is opposing the request. 'Nothing has been decided. We have been asked to make presentations regarding the request for expulsion,' she said, adding that there is no clarity at the moment on when the presiding judge will make a decision. The deportation request was made by Spain's General Commissariat for Aliens and Borders, a national police agency that manages immigration and border control matters, reported the Spanish media. If it is approved by the Spanish court, Ong, who is currently incarcerated in the Sangonera la Verde prison in Murcia, could be tried in Singapore, where he may face the death penalty if charged with murder. Both the public prosecutor's office and private prosecution – represented by lawyer Manuel Martinez on behalf of the Fang family in February – announced their intention to charge Ong with murder. A murder charge in Spain carries a jail sentence ranging from 15 years to 25 years. The Spanish immigration authority also requested that Ong be banned from returning to Spain for 10 years. The private lawyer representing the Fang family is in agreement with the deportation request, reported Spanish daily La Opinion de Murcia. Ong's lawyer told La Opinion that expulsion would be a violation of the rule of law and international treaties Spain has signed and ratified. 'He is involved in ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain, where he must be tried with due process,' Ms Ruiz de Castaneda said. 'Expulsion would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the principle of non-refoulement and Spain's commitments against the death penalty.' She had previously called for the case to be dismissed, saying all necessary evidence had to be examined and that Ong 'firmly and consistently' insisted he did not kill Ms Fang. Ong has been in custody since April 16, 2024, after Ms Fang was found dead near a parking area for lorries in the town of Abanilla on April 10 that year. Two of Ms Fang's friends told a Spanish court on June 26, 2024, that Ms Fang and Ong had met on a social dating network. Mr Martinez, representing Ms Fang's family in court, said she had told her friends she was planning to meet Ong in Spain during her holiday. Ms Fang, a 39-year-old architect, left Singapore on April 4 to travel alone to Xabia in the Valencia region of Spain. She was supposed to return eight days later but became uncontactable on April 10. She died from knife wounds and head trauma. DNA from two men was found on her clothes, La Opinion reported in March, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in her death. Ong, who was previously an insurance agent with AIA, was also found to have been nominated as the sole beneficiary of Ms Fang's Central Provident Fund savings, with the accounts reportedly containing around $498,000. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
New Paper
03-05-2025
- New Paper
Spain seeks to deport Audrey Fang murder suspect Mitchell Ong for Singapore trial
Mitchell Ong, the suspect in the fatal stabbing of fellow Singaporean Audrey Fang in Spain, faces being deported to be tried in Singapore, after the Spanish immigration authorities submitted the request to a court. His lawyer, Ms Maria Jesus Ruiz de Castaneda, told The Straits Times she is opposing the request. "Nothing has been decided. We have been asked to make presentations regarding the request for expulsion," she said, adding that there is no clarity at the moment on when the presiding judge will make a decision. The deportation request was made by Spain's General Commissariat for Aliens and Borders, a national police agency that manages immigration and border control matters, reported the Spanish media. If it is approved by the Spanish court, Ong, who is currently incarcerated in the Sangonera la Verde prison in Murcia, could be tried in Singapore, where he may face the death penalty if charged with murder. Both the public prosecutor's office and private prosecution - represented by attorney Manuel Martinez on behalf of the Fang family in February - announced their intention to charge Ong with murder. A murder charge in Spain carries a jail sentence ranging from 15 years to 25 years. The Spanish immigration authority also requested that he be banned from returning to Spain for 10 years. The private lawyer representing the Fang family is in agreement with the deportation request, reported Spanish daily La Opinion de Murcia. Ong's lawyer, Ms Ruiz de Castaneda, told La Opinion that expulsion would be a violation of the rule of law and international treaties Spain has signed and ratified. "He is involved in ongoing criminal proceedings in Spain, where he must be tried with due process," she said. "Expulsion would be contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights, the principle of non-refoulement and Spain's commitments against the death penalty." Ms Ruiz de Castaneda had previously called for the case to be dismissed, saying all necessary evidence had to be examined and that Ong "firmly and consistently" insisted he did not kill her. Ong has been in custody since April 16, 2024, after Ms Fang was found dead near a parking area for lorries in the town of Abanilla on April 10 that year. Two of Ms Fang's friends told a Spanish court on June 26, 2024, that Ms Fang and Ong had met on a social dating network. Mr Martinez, representing Ms Fang's family in court, said she had told her friends she was planning to meet Ong in Spain during her holiday. Ms Fang, a 39-year-old architect, left Singapore on April 4 to travel alone to Xabia in the Valencia region of Spain. She was supposed to return eight days later but became uncontactable on April 10. She died from knife wounds and head trauma. DNA from two men was found on her clothes, La Opinion reported in March, raising the possibility that more than one person was involved in her death. Ong, who was previously an insurance agent with AIA, was also found to have been nominated as the sole beneficiary of Ms Fang's Central Provident Fund savings, with the accounts reportedly containing around $498,000.
