The Singapore prosecution is seeking to extend the 38-day remand of former BSI banker Yeo Jiawei out of concerns that he had "tampered with witnesses".

The application for further remand was made yesterday, after Yeo was slapped with an additional two charges, bringing the total number of charges to nine, The Edge Singapore reported.

Yeo is alleged to have in 2013 cheated BSI Bank through a firm Bridgerock Investment Inc, which he owns.

The court will decide on the remand extension application on Thursday, the business daily reported.

Second solicitor-general Kwek Mean Luck told the court Yeo should not be granted bail because he had on March 27 met with potential witnesses to "collaborate" stories to provide a "consistent response" to the Commercial Affairs Department, if questioned.

Kwek said Yeo also contacted former BSI senior banker Yak Yew Chee via encrypted messaging system 'Telegram' to tell Yak "they are very unhappy with you".

"They", Kwek said, referred to BSI clients.

“The above communications unmistakably show that the accused has no compunctions perverting the course of justice. He was attempting to influence key witnesses to investigations even before he was formally arrested by the authorities,” Kwek reportedly said.

Yak handled 1MDB's accounts at BSI Singapore and had in February filed an application in the Singapore High Court to unfreeze his funds to pay for legal fees and taxes.

'Yeo is not a flight risk'

Kwek also sought standalone proceedings for the charges relating to tampering of witnesses.

“This is a very serious breach in our financial sector. The reason why we are taking these unusual steps, simply because the accused has taken unusual steps,” he said.

Veteran lawyer Harry Elias, who appeared for Yeo, said the 38-day remand is "simply unacceptable" and sought bail of S$200,000 to S$400,000.

He said Yeo is not a flight risk and will meet investigators daily.

Elias added that the defence has only met with Yeo for an hour thus far.

“That’s not fair to the system, the accused, the lawyers and the court,” he reportedly said.