Source: Wikipedia & Wikipedia for illustration purposes only
The newly-unveiled Jeffrey Epstein files have piqued the attention of those in Singapore after an email exchange between former British politician Peter Mandelson and Epstein mentioned the late Lee Kuan Yew.
72-year-old Mandelson is facing a criminal investigation in the United Kingdom (UK) for purportedly handing over market-sensitive information to Epstein following the 2008 financial crisis.
The latest release by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) comprises more than three million pages of documents linked to Epstein’s network of associates and contacts.
While mere mention of names in the files do not immediately imply any wrongdoing, a 2010 email has drawn particular attention.
Source: United States Department of Justice
In it, Mandelson allegedly told Epstein that he had dined with the late founding Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
He also described the veteran Singapore leader as someone who could be useful in helping him navigate China.
“He is prepared to help me in China. Thinks that I need a ‘perch’, a bank,” the email read.
According to CNN, Mandelson has been forced to leave government twice due to his links to wealthy individuals.
Many netizens are fascinated by the mention of Mr Lee in the files.
Some noted that while he was then in his late-80s and unlikely to have been deeply involved in the matters in question, the name-drop feeds into public fascination with Epstein’s elite circle.
One Redditor suggested that Mandelson was perhaps seeking to boost his credibility as Mr Lee was seen as the “China Whisperer”.
Source: Reddit
Meanwhile, another netizen felt that it was simply a non-issue for Mandelson to have dinner with Mr Lee back then.
“Seems like nothing much really,” they wrote, noting that it was not as though the latter had communicated directly with Epstein.
Source: Reddit
In Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim has also garnered attention after his name reportedly appeared elsewhere in the Epstein email archive.
The Malaysian prime minister has since publicly rejected any suggestion of links to Epstein or to others mentioned in the correspondence.
Anwar said he had only recently become aware of the email reference and stressed that there was “absolutely no connection whatsoever” between him and Epstein.
He also clarified that the email dated back to more than a decade ago, and involved an external party mentioning his name.
MS News has reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for comment.
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Featured image adapted from Wikipedia, Wikipedia for illustration purposes only, and US Department of Justice.