Spanish couple involved in Peter Lim protest probe given ‘stern warning’, and have left Singapore
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Valencia fans have frequently demanded the exit of the club's Singaporean owner Peter Lim.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SINGAPORE – The two Spanish tourists who were assisting police with investigations over protests against Valencia’s Singaporean owner Peter Lim have been issued a stern warning, and have since left Singapore.
The pair, understood to be Dani Cuesta and Mireia Saez, had their passports impounded as they were being investigated for allegedly taking part in a public assembly without a permit under the Public Order Act.
On Oct 3, Cuesta had uploaded pictures of himself holding a banner that read “Lim Go Home” in various parts of Singapore to protest against the businessman.
On Oct 15, the police, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, said a stern warning was given to the 34-year-old man and 30-year-old woman after “taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case”.
The statement said the man was issued a stern warning for taking part in a public assembly and for affixing notices without consent.
He could have been fined up to $3,000 for the first offence and $1,000 for the second. The woman received a stern warning for abetting the man’s participation in a public assembly. The duo have left Singapore, the police added.
The incident was reported in multiple Spanish and international media outlets.
A statement issued on behalf of the couple said: “We want to thank all those people and institutions (embassy of Spain in Singapore and government delegation in Valencia) who have been really concerned... and regret the noise generated by others who have delayed, for personal interests, the resolution of this nightmare. Thanking again all those who have sent us their support these days, our request is that you respect the privacy of the family to be able to return to tranquillity and recover the normality of everyday life.”
Cuesta had earlier posted on social media platform X that he and Saez were on their honeymoon, with Bali also on their itinerary.
On his X account, there were pictures of him holding the banner 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 gates at the building.
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, 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 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.
