'HK To Try Interpol Suspect Before Extradition'

Sources told RTHK on Tuesday that Hong Kong will not immediately hand an alleged gangster over to the Indian authorities, even though India is reported to have made an extradition request.

Ramanjit Singh, a Hong Kong resident who was born in India but grew up in the SAR, was the target of an international manhunt and is accused of a litany of crimes including terrorism-related offences, and masterminding a major jailbreak in India.

But SAR authorities are understood to want to deal with two robbery charges against Singh first before they handle the extradition request.

Singh was arrested in Hong Kong last March for robbery. After he was released on bail, he allegedly committed a second robbery here and was arrested again. He's now facing trial for the alleged offences.

Media reports in India said the 29-year-old, from Punjab state, was arrested there in 2016 on charges of car theft and possessing fake credit cards. He was granted bail after serving two months in jail.

But he later fled to Hong Kong, where he's alleged to have masterminded and funded a major jailbreak in Punjab, where men disguised as policemen attacked a prison and freed several inmates.

Interpol had issued a worldwide manhunt for Singh over various crimes including alleged terrorism links.

Hong Kong's Correctional Services Commissioner Lam Kwok-leung refused to comment on the case or whether the facility the suspect is being held in has stepped up security measures.