CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian authorities said Saturday they have begun extradition proceedings against a Singaporean woman and a British man who are reportedly wanted in connection with a grisly double murder committed in Singapore earlier this year.
Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison said Australian Federal Police were holding in custody Michael McCrae, a 44-year-old British man, and Audrey Ong, a 22-year-old Singaporean woman, following a request from Singapore authorities.
McCrae and Ong were arrested earlier this month under Australia’s extradition law, said Federal police spokesman Terry Browne. McCrae had been arrested separately last month on an immigration offense unrelated to the Singapore extradition request.
Singapore authorities have 45 days to present their case for extradition to a Melbourne court. Australian authorities declined to comment on the reasons for Singapore’s request to extradite the two people.
Ong will appear in court on July 19 for her extradition hearing and McCrae on July 24. The two, who are now being held in the southern city of Melbourne, have not been charged.
According to a report in the Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper, Singapore authorities believe a British man arrested in Australia and awaiting extradition may have “crucial insights” into the murder of his former chauffeur. The report did not give the suspect’s name.
The British man’s former chauffeur was found stuffed in a wicker basket in the back seat of a car in a parking garage in January. In the trunk of the car was the decomposed body of a woman who has yet to be identified and a bouquet of wilted roses, the report said.
A red and white checkered blanket was placed over the man’s body in the wicker basket. A corkscrew, a romantic note, cigarettes and a champagne glass were also found in the car, the report said. The chauffeur is believed to have been killed in the British man’s apartment, it said.
