A former member of parliament and one of Singapore’s most-wanted fugitives was charged with 28 additional offences today, a media report said.

Phey Yew Kok was presented to the court via a video link, Channel NewsAsia reported.

He jumped bail in 1979 after being charged with four counts of criminal breach of trust and two offences under the Trades Union Act for buying shares in an unapproved company using trade union funds.

Phey is a former chairperson of the National Trades Union Congress.

Most of the fresh charges read to the 81-year-old were related to criminal breach of trust.

No bail was offered to the accused.

After fleeing in December 1979, Phey disappeared in Thailand and did not re-emerge for 36 years until he turned himself in at the Singapore embassy in Bangkok last month.

If convicted of criminal breach of trust by a public servant, Phey could be fined as well as sentenced to up to seven years’ imprisonment.

The other two offences under the Trades Union Act would result in a fine of up to S$1,000 (US$730), unless the offences are found to warrant another form of punishment under the legislation.

- dpa