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FCO warns against “re-abducting” children from a parent overseas (29 September 2014)

Date: 29/09/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, FCO warns against “re-abducting” children from a parent overseas

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is warning agencies or individuals tracking down children who have been abducted and taken overseas by family not to “re-abduct” them in order to return them to the parent who has custody.

The warning follows the case of a British-based private investigator and former Metropolitan Police Officer, who has been jailed in Singapore after he tried to return an abducted child to his British mother.

The Telegraph reports that Adam Whittington – who runs an agency called Child Abduction Recovery International – was trying to rescue a two-year-old boy from his Singaporean father in a custody battle.

The boy had been placed in the custody of his mother by a UK court in January this year, after the couple filed for divorce.

However, the boy’s father obtained an interim restraining order from the family court in Singapore, which prevented the child from being taken out of the country.

The mother hired Mr Whittington – whose agency claims to work “under the radar” – and instructed him to enter Singapore to retrieve the boy from his paternal grandparents under cover of night.

It is reported Whittington was on a reconnaissance trip and intended to study the daily routine of the boy’s grandparents in preparation for the rescue attempt.

However, he and the child’s mother chartered a catamaran and landed at the exclusive Raffles Marina Club in Singapore without immigration clearance or permission, after discovering the club was not patrolled by guards at certain times.

They then drove to the grandparents’ house and a scuffle over the child followed.

Court papers in Singapore state that Whittington pressed the neck of the child’s 68-year-old grandmother when she tried to prevent him from leading the child away with his mother – and that he also placed his arm round the neck of the child’s 66-year-old grandfather.

The next day, Whittington was arrested together with the child’s mother and the skipper of the catamaran they chartered.

The prosecution in the case said that Whittington’s actions showed “a complete disregard” for the laws of Singapore – as well as being a “vigilante’s attempt to subvert due process of a matter, which is still before the Singapore family court”.

All three pleaded guilty to entering Singapore illegally – Whittington was jailed for 16 weeks, while the captain of the catamaran, Todd Wilson, was jailed for 10 weeks.

The child’s mother – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was also jailed for 10 weeks.

Whittington had admitted “arm locking” the boy’s grandfather and was given a higher sentence accordingly for two counts of assault and voluntarily causing hurt, the court said.

All three have apologised to the court in Singapore for their actions, including entering Singapore illegally.

A spokesman from the FCO said:

“We advise British nationals who are involved in international parental child abductions or custody disputes to contact the FCO for consular assistance.

“The FCO strongly advises against re-abducting children. This may be illegal and can put your child at risk.”

Duncan Lewis Children Lawyers

Duncan Lewis children lawyers have expertise in handling cases of international child abduction – and work with our legal associates overseas to locate and return abducted children to the UK as soon as possible.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors – and can advise on parent-child abduction cases under UK law and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on parent-child abduction, call Duncan Lewis children lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

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