SINGAPORE: A Spanish man and woman in their 30s are assisting the police with investigations after photos appeared on social media of the man holding a banner in various parts of Singapore to protest against Singaporean business magnate Peter Lim, who owns Spanish top-tier football club Valencia.
The pair, who are assisting with investigations for the alleged offence of taking part in a public assembly under Section 16 (2) of the Public Order Act 2009, are understood to be Dani Cuesta and Mireia Saez. Their passports have been impounded while investigations are ongoing.
Laws under this act regulate assemblies and processions in public spaces, in order to preserve public order and the safety of individuals.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force said in a statement: “The Police confirm that a police report was lodged against a 34-year-old Spanish man and a 30-year-old Spanish woman…
“The passports of the two subjects have been impounded while investigations are ongoing.”
Cuesta had posted on social media platform X that he and Saez are on their honeymoon, with Bali also on their itinerary.
On his X account, there are pictures of himself holding a banner that read “Lim Go Home” at various places in Singapore, including in front of a building he believed to be owned by Lim.
The Oct 3 post also included a video of him pasting a sticker with the words “Lim Out” on one of the building’s gates.
Singaporean billionaire Lim took over Valencia in 2014. The 71-year-old was initially hailed a hero by fans when his Meriton Holdings bought the club for €420 million (S$600.7 million), saving them from bankruptcy.
In Valencia’s first season with Lim at the helm, the team finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League.
But the relationship between him and the club’s supporters has soured, with fans accusing him of “mismanagement” and regularly demanding his exit. Lim, however, has received the backing of La Liga chief Javier Tebas.
The six-time La Liga champions and two-time Champions League finalists are now third from bottom in the Spanish top flight, with only one win in nine matches.
Valencia said in a statement on their website that the club and the La Liga office are in contact with the Spanish embassy in Singapore, which has assured that the couple are being advised and assisted in everything necessary to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
Responding to ST’s queries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain said its Singapore embassy is “providing assistance to those affected and is in permanent contact with their families”.
-The Straits Times/ANN
-TheStar
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