Ge Zhi @ Zhi “Josh” Ge or Gez

The United States sought the extradition of Mr Ge Zhi @ ZHI "JOSH" GE or GEZ to stand trial in Massachusetts on six counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit and committing money laundering. He was arrested in Singapore on 3 July 2024 under a warrant of apprehension and remained in remand. The US made its formal request on 29 August 2024, supported by an affidavit of an Assistant United States Attorney enclosing an FBI agent's affidavit and the grand jury indictment. As Mr Ge did not consent to surrender, the State applied in EXT-900002-2024 for his committal to prison to await the Minister's warrant under s 16(8) of the Extradition Act 1968.

The committal hearing was delayed for over a year. Three sets of hearing dates were vacated after applications by Mr Ge or his counsel, including on account of counsel's illness, a planned bail motion, claims that he had relapsed into bipolar disorder (an Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist found no active mental disorder and fitness to proceed), and counsel's discharge. An application for supervised Internet access in prison was dismissed. The hearing finally took place on 20 and 31 August 2026, with Mr Ge acting in person. His case was that he never had inside information and traded on public information.

1. Whether a duly authenticated foreign warrant for Mr Ge had been produced.
2. Whether the US charges were extradition offences and whether there was a prima facie case that would justify his trial if the conduct had occurred in Singapore.
3. Whether Mr Ge was liable to be surrendered to the United States.

The court observed that extradition is meant to be a summary, expeditious process founded on comity, and found that the delays were attributable solely to Mr Ge's own applications.

The arrest warrant was signed by a US Magistrate Judge, sealed, authenticated on oath by the prosecutor and accompanied by a certificate from the US Secretary of State, so it was duly authenticated. The US is a foreign State through the treaty extended to Singapore by the 1935 Order in Council. The securities charges corresponded to abetting insider trading under s 219 of the Securities and Futures Act, and the money laundering charges to offences under s 47 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, none being excluded offences.

A prima facie case requires some evidence, not inherently incredible, that would prove each element if unrebutted; guilt is not decided at this stage. According to the FBI affidavit and a cooperating witness who had pleaded guilty in the US, Mr Ge and others allegedly obtained inside information about takeovers and other announcements, traded on it, passed it to others, used coded language and disposable phones, and took a share of profits. The court found this evidence disclosed a prima facie case of conspiracy to commit insider trading, with the covert methods showing knowledge that the information was not public. It also found a prima facie case on the money laundering counts, based on evidence that Mr Ge told the cooperating witness to describe a US$300,000 transfer to Hong Kong as payment for goods.

Mr Ge's defence that he used only public information was for trial in the US, and his evidence did not displace the prima facie case. No statutory exception applied.

The District Court granted the application and ordered Mr Ge committed to prison to await the Minister's warrant for his surrender to the United States, finding every requirement of s 16(8) of the Extradition Act satisfied. He was told of his right to apply to the High Court for review of his detention, and later confirmed he would not waive that right.