Singapore: What the Epstein Files Actually Show

Investigation date: March 20, 2026
Databases queried: full_text_corpus.db, concordance_complete.db (1.42M documents, 2.91M pages, Datasets 1–12)
DOJ document URL format: https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%20{DATASET}/EFTA{NUMBER}.pdf
External reporting reviewed: Asia Sentinel, The Bureau News, Must Share News, Wire China, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, PBS, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Maxthon Blog, Reuters

Summary of Findings

In February 2026, Singapore media extensively covered the Epstein files, driven primarily by two emails that reportedly referenced Singapore nationals. Must Share News published multiple pieces. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement on February 12, 2026, saying police had "not received any information that suggests possible criminal activities in Singapore arising from the Epstein Files." (MHA) Both emails are in the files. Both are addressed in Section 8.

Singapore appears repeatedly across Epstein-related correspondence involving finance, political contacts, logistics, and travel over nearly a decade. That is where the more significant story lies.

Four findings in this report were not identified in the reviewed external coverage:

1. Jes Staley's GIC mission (July 2014): Staley messaged Epstein to report he was flying to Singapore to "bring home the GIC," Singapore's main sovereign wealth fund, apparently as a prospective institutional client.
2. Staley floating a JPMorgan division relocation to Singapore (December 2009): Staley told Epstein he was considering moving JPMorgan's investment banking headquarters to Singapore, citing what he called "ugly" political conditions in the post-crisis environment.
3. A second Lee Kuan Yew reference (October 2012): Separate from the 2010 Mandelson email that Singapore media has covered, Staley referenced meetings with Lee Kuan Yew while en route Singapore for JPMorgan business, and reported this to Epstein. This reference does not appear in any coverage reviewed.
4. Singapore named in a financial council proposal, in correspondence that also involves Prince Andrew (May 2011): In direct correspondence with Desmond Shum, Epstein first asked whether Shum wanted to meet Prince Andrew in China. Shum declined. Twelve days later, Epstein wrote that Andrew said Shum had met him that day at a dinner, and Shum confirmed the dinner meeting. That same evening Epstein described plans for a "swat team" of financial figures rotating through Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Singapore — one of three proposed host cities — naming Larry Summers and Leon Black.

Taken together, the Staley emails show him treating Epstein as a confidant on major professional matters, including regulatory positioning, sovereign-fund business, and meetings involving politically connected figures. They place that relationship years after Epstein's 2008 conviction and during Staley's leadership of JPMorgan's investment bank.

1. Jes Staley: Singapore Across Five Years

Jes Staley ran JPMorgan Chase's investment bank from 2004 to 2012, joined Blue Mountain Capital in 2013, and became CEO of Barclays in December 2015. He resigned from Barclays in November 2021 after a dispute with UK regulators over how he had characterized his relationship with Epstein. (Reuters) JPMorgan subsequently sued Staley to recover eight years of pay. Asia Sentinel reported, citing JPMorgan court documents in the Epstein files, that approximately 1,200 emails were exchanged between Epstein and Staley's JPMorgan account, and that Epstein gave Staley extensive advice on JPMorgan's China strategy, including introductions to former Chinese vice presidents Wang Qishan and Li Yuanchao. The Singapore thread is distinct. Three of its four main data points were not found in the reviewed coverage.

October 2012: Lee Kuan Yew Meetings

On October 30, 2012, while in transit between Hong Kong and Singapore, Staley wrote to Epstein:

"Thats smart. Have you seen the fires in Queens. I'm in Hong Kong on my way to Singapore. All is good here, with Jamie and I being best of friends. Should be interesting to have the events with Lee Kwon Yew. Here is a gunny one, I am introducing Larry Summers at a JPM ceo event next Friday in Napa Valley. Feeling better and better about Blue..."

[EFTA01765812]

"Lee Kwon Yew" is a phonetic rendering of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding prime minister, who died in March 2015. ("Kuan," the standard Hokkien romanization, sounds like "Kwon" to an English speaker — this is a mishearing, not a different name.) Staley wrote that he was heading to "the events with Lee Kwon Yew" and, in the same email, commented on his relationship with Jamie Dimon. The email also notes that Staley was introducing Larry Summers at a JPMorgan CEO event in Napa Valley. That is the same Larry Summers Epstein named six months earlier in his proposed rotating financial council email to Desmond Shum. Epstein replied: "maybe, but unlikely." [EFTA01981517]

Two days later, on November 1, 2012, Epstein asked Staley "Island you?" Staley replied with a single word: "Singapore." [EFTA01764918, EFTA01301220]

Singapore media has reported a separate 2010 email where Peter Mandelson told Epstein he dined with Lee Kuan Yew and described him as useful for navigating China. (Must Share News) The Staley reference here is from 2012, involves a different person, and does not appear in any coverage reviewed.

July 2014: The GIC Mission

On July 7, 2014, Staley messaged Epstein:

"I trust u are on the Island. Flying now to Singapore. To bring home the GIC."

[EFTA01919043]

GIC is Singapore's main sovereign wealth fund. It does not publicly disclose its assets under management, but by any standard public description it ranks among the world's largest state investment institutions. (GIC)

At this point Staley was at Blue Mountain Capital, post-JPMorgan. Winning GIC as an institutional investor would have been a major mandate for Blue Mountain. He reported this mission to Epstein's personal email. Epstein replied the next morning: "Just got to island. Call tomorrow." [EFTA01919043] No further exchange on the GIC appears in the files.

Maxthon Blog has reported on a September 2012 email where Epstein was forwarded information about Temasek, Singapore's other sovereign wealth fund, exploring a sale of its Standard Chartered stake. GIC and Temasek are distinct institutions. No coverage reviewed has connected the GIC specifically to Staley's Epstein correspondence.

December 2009: Floating a JPMorgan Division Relocation

On December 24, 2009, Staley wrote to Epstein:

"Happy holidays. How about I move myself and the headquarters of the lb to Singapore? The political winds are ugly."

[EFTA01300397]

"The lb" most likely refers to JPMorgan's investment banking division — Staley ran it before moving to lead the private bank — though the abbreviation is not spelled out in the document. This was the immediate post-financial-crisis period, with sharply increased regulatory pressure on Wall Street. Staley described the political environment as "ugly" and appears to have been floating Singapore as an alternative base for the division — a question he addressed, on Christmas Eve, to a convicted sex offender.

Epstein replied: "are you going to do the same with your sailboat." [EFTA01300398] Staley: "Its a thought." [EFTA01300399]

Two months earlier, in September 2009, Epstein had himself suggested Singapore to Staley: "I think you should have a europe and or asia second apt. probably london, singapore." [EFTA01817728]

Asia Sentinel and others have covered Epstein's Asia strategy advice to Staley, focusing on the China angle. The Singapore relocation discussion was not found in any coverage reviewed.

2. Peter Mandelson: Lee Kuan Yew, Desmond Shum, and Arrest

Peter Mandelson served as EU Trade Commissioner (2004-2008) and UK Business Secretary (2008-2010), then founded Global Counsel, a political risk advisory firm. He was appointed UK Ambassador to the United States in 2024, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed him from that role in September 2025 after emails were published showing he had maintained a friendship with Epstein following the financier's 2008 conviction. He subsequently resigned from the House of Lords, though he retains the title Lord Mandelson. (PBS) On February 23, 2026, London's Metropolitan Police arrested him on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was later released on bail, and reporting at the time said he did not face charges. (CNN, PBS)

Police are investigating whether Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein while serving in office, including information reported to have had possible market significance. (Washington Post)

The Lee Kuan Yew Email (2010)

On June 24, 2010, Mandelson emailed Epstein:

"Just had three hour dinner with Lee Kuan Yew. He is prepared to help me in China. Thinks that I need a 'perch', a bank. Thinks that prob a European better than US bank as I can leverage my EU contacts."

[EFTA00744404, EFTA02411106]

This is more substantive than Singapore media conveyed. Mandelson is not simply reporting a dinner. He is describing Lee Kuan Yew as advising him on how to position his post-government commercial activity in China, including which type of bank to affiliate with and why a European institution would better leverage his EU contacts.

Must Share News reported on this email. No wrongdoing by Lee Kuan Yew is implied or alleged by the existence of it.

Desmond Shum: Singapore Dinner and CITIC Introduction

On January 28, 2011, Epstein asked Mandelson about "Desmond shim?" — and Mandelson replied:

"Desmond Shum. Now also going to raise China fund."

[EFTA02032423]

Eight months later, in September 2011, Mandelson emailed Epstein:

"Close on Sept 23. Just had dinner with desmond in Singapore."

[EFTA02032323]

Desmond Shum built the Capital Airport Cargo Terminal in Beijing and accumulated influence through high-level CCP connections. He and his ex-wife Whitney Duan were known in Beijing as a power couple with access to China's elite. Whitney Duan was detained by Chinese authorities in 2017 and has not been seen publicly since. Shum published "Red Roulette" (2021), a memoir about CCP corruption. The Bureau News has reported that through the Mandelson-facilitated introduction, Shum introduced CITIC's senior leadership to Epstein. CITIC, a Chinese state conglomerate, had been identified in North American media in the late 1990s as having links to the People's Liberation Army.

Follow-up emails show Mandelson actively monitoring the Shum relationship: "How did u find Desmond when he visited?" [EFTA01975694, November 22, 2012] Shum emailed Epstein directly about New York and Paris meetings, confirming he was an active contact rather than a one-time introduction. [EFTA01843753, EFTA01873121]

May 2011: Singapore in a Financial Council Proposal, in a Thread Linked to Prince Andrew

On May 3, 2011, Epstein emailed Shum: "do you want to meet with Prince Andrew. when he is there in china next week?" [EFTA00909972] Shum declined: "Unless you want me to." Epstein replied: "no, I know he is meeting with many leaders. and i thought you might want in.. no upside for me." [EFTA00909977] Shum: "Let it slide then. I don't like glamor." [EFTA00690944]

Twelve days later, on May 15, Epstein wrote to Shum: "andrew said you met today." [EFTA01864628] Shum replied: "Yes, a friend of mine organized a dinner and we met." [EFTA02028693]

Despite declining Epstein's proposed introduction, Shum met Prince Andrew at a dinner twelve days later, and Epstein then wrote, "andrew said you met today." The following evening, Epstein laid out a broader plan to Shum:

"I am going to host a swat team of financial heads and experts. Larry Summers, Leon Black, and will rotate countries that I invite. Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore etc. I am considering adding China."

[EFTA01866370]

Singapore here is proposed as a host city for a rotating gathering of financial figures — alongside Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. Larry Summers had stepped down from the White House National Economic Council four months earlier; Leon Black ran Apollo Global Management. This is Epstein, nearly three years after his conviction, sketching that plan in direct correspondence with a businessman tied to elite Chinese political networks. The "swat team" email is not causally linked to the Andrew dinner — it arrives the following evening and there is no connection made explicit in the documents — but both land in the same correspondence thread, in the same week, with the same contact.

Wire China and The Bureau News's systematic analysis have both covered this thread as a potential China influence operation routed through the Epstein network.

3. Ian Osborne: Singapore as a Deal and Transit Hub

Ian Osborne is a British investor and political adviser who appears hundreds of times in the files as a central node connecting Epstein to European and Asian elite networks. Asia Sentinel described him as a key figure connecting Epstein to Asian business families. Greg Olear's Substack has profiled him as "Jeffrey Epstein 2.0."

August 2011: En Route Singapore, Advising on Berlusconi

On August 20, 2011, Osborne messaged Epstein while heading to Singapore:

"I am just en route Singapore but let's speak early tomorrow Paris time, and we can also discuss the Newsweek. I tend to agree with Michael's advice but can perhaps add to it in terms of how the Governor's office formally responds."

[EFTA01987391]

The same email chain references "Team Berlusconi," indicating Osborne was simultaneously advising on political crisis communications for Italy's prime minister.

August 2012: Escorting Eike Batista

On August 9, 2012, Osborne wrote from Singapore:

"Greetings from Singapore. I just left a message on your mobile but let me know what works. From lunchtime today thru Tuesday, I am taking Eike around out here, which will be interesting."

[EFTA01874519]

"Eike" is Eike Batista, who at that moment was briefly the seventh-richest person in the world. His Brazilian resource empire collapsed the following year under debt. He was subsequently convicted of corruption and bribery of Rio de Janeiro's governor. Osborne was personally guiding him through Singapore's business environment at the peak of his wealth.

June 2012: "A Rather Sticky and Unpleasant Singapore"

"Just departing a rather sticky and unpleasant Singapore."

[EFTA02020697, June 11, 2012]

The same email chain includes Boris Nikolic — Bill Gates's science adviser and a documented post-conviction Epstein contact — who writes: "Sorry — for Singapore — I was there 10 days ago. It was not as bad as in New Delhi." Osborne had already signaled his mood the day before departure: "flying to Singapore... not my favourite." [EFTA01878850] Two separate Epstein associates were in Singapore within ten days of each other. The files give no indication whether this was coordinated or coincidental, and no explanation appears for what made the visit unwelcome for either of them.

November 2011: The Kuok Family

In November 2011, Osborne told Epstein: "our friends the Kuoks booked us into the Shangri-La which they just opened, to get our opinion." [EFTA02033257]

The Kuok family founded the Shangri-La Hotels chain and rank among Asia's most powerful business dynasties. Asia Sentinel has specifically reported that through Osborne, the Kuok family and Li Ka-shing invested in Hedosphia, a fund to which Epstein contributed advice and documents. Asia Sentinel notes these investors probably never met Epstein and there is no evidence they were involved in his criminal activity.

4. Myla Trestiza and Wilson Yacht Management (Loose Thread)

In late September 2016, travel documents in the production show Myla Trestiza, described throughout as "Chief Stewardess," forwarding Singapore Airlines flight confirmations for herself and Philip Anthony Baker:

• SQ335: Paris CDG to Singapore Changi, September 28, 2016 [EFTA01746739, EFTA01746905, EFTA01746837, EFTA01746703, EFTA01746775]
• SQ910: Singapore Changi to Manila, September 29, 2016

Bookings made by Wilson Yacht Management ([email protected]), Hessle, East Yorkshire, UK, through Travel Counsellors Ltd in Manchester.

Researcher Smith K. Stead has confirmed that Trestiza and Baker worked aboard the luxury charter yacht Te Manu, launched 1998. She is Filipino, joined the crew in May 2007, and appears in the files primarily in connection with travel logistics and employment arrangements coordinated through Epstein's accountant Richard Kahn. South China Morning Post investigated Philippine connections in the Epstein files separately.

Paris and Manila can be connected without a Singapore stop. The Singapore layover was deliberate and explicit in the booking. The files contain no records of any meetings or activity during it, and the routing may have a mundane explanation. The travel record is documented. Its significance remains unclear.

5. Document Completeness: Other Singapore References

The following mentions of Singapore appear in the files but do not add to the Singapore-specific analysis. They are documented here for completeness.

Mohammed Waheed Hassan, then President of the Maldives, listed Singapore as one stop on a generic Asia trip itinerary and asked Epstein for a New York meeting [EFTA01927453]; Epstein forwarded the email to his scheduler Lesley Groff within hours [EFTA01928653]. This reflects Epstein's access to heads of state. Singapore is incidental. Sustainability academic Jem Bendell, introduced to Epstein by Boris Nikolic for an alternative currencies event, noted Singapore as a stop in his travel schedule [EFTA02032313]. Bendell has been publicly open about his Epstein correspondence and has written about it himself. Singapore is a transit point, not the subject.

6. Epstein's Own Travel Plan

On April 4, 2012, Epstein sent a world travel itinerary that included Singapore as a stop on a round-the-world private-jet trip planned for May 2012:

"may 20 trip around the world maldives, turkey kazak, singapore, san fran, ranch, new york, Isj, ranch, for july."

[EFTA01872946]

His assistant Larry Cohen confirmed the Boeing would be used. [EFTA01873712, EFTA01873839] No meeting records or activity logs from the Singapore leg appear in the files.

7. Singapore Government Response and Media Coverage

The MHA statement (February 12, 2026) was narrowly scoped: police had "not received any information that suggests possible criminal activities in Singapore arising from the Epstein Files." (MHA press release) It did not address broader financial, reputational, or network links.

Must Share News reported on February 6, 2026 on two emails reportedly referencing Singapore nationals: one mentioning a "girl from Singapore," one about a staffer named "Julian" arranging Philippines nationals with Singapore hotel and cruise experience. (Must Share News) These are addressed in Section 8.

Must Share News also reported on the Mandelson/Lee Kuan Yew 2010 email. (Must Share News) That email has been located in the corpus (EFTA00744404) and is quoted in full in Section 2. The Staley/LKY reference from 2012 (EFTA01765812) is a separately confirmed document involving a different person and is not found in any coverage reviewed.

Asia Sentinel covered the financial threads most thoroughly, including Staley/JPMorgan, Osborne/Kuok/Li Ka-shing, and Prince Andrew's Singapore trade promotion visits. (Asia Sentinel) It also published a dedicated piece on the Kuok/Li Ka-shing investment connection.

The Bureau News published the most detailed analysis of the Mandelson-Shum-CITIC thread. (The CITIC Files, Systematic analysis)

Jom Magazine referenced "Singaporean leaders hosting Epstein in 2002" but placed the relevant content behind a paywall, and the underlying documentation has not been independently confirmed in this search.

A photo of Singapore leaders Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Goh Chok Tong with Epstein circulated online, linked to a 2002 dinner for Bill Clinton. (Must Share News) Neither is implicated in Epstein's criminal conduct.

The MHA statement and the findings in this report are answering different questions. The MHA addressed possible criminal activities in Singapore — an assessment police conducted based on what had been reported to them. None of the four unreported findings in this report allege criminal activity in Singapore. They concern financial relationships, sovereign-fund solicitation, network access, and travel logistics. A statement that no criminal activities have been flagged does not speak to these questions one way or the other.

8. The Two Singapore Media Emails

"Not alone: girl from Singapore"

[EFTA00742231]

Sent July 12, 2010 to Epstein's [email protected]. The sender is fully redacted. The text:

"He did not want to call a) we were not alone: girl from Singapore b) no news he said When can I call you? Tomorrow before I go to China?"

Someone — sender unknown, recipient unknown — was relaying to Epstein why a third party hadn't called: he had company. The "girl from Singapore" is the reason given. The sender mentions leaving for China the next day. The sender's identity is redacted throughout; the person who didn't call is unnamed. The same email appears in a later tranche at [EFTA02410389].

Must Share News reported this email accurately. What it doesn't establish is any operational Singapore connection — this is a single offhand reference, sender unknown, in a relay message.

"Julian / Philippines / Singapore hotel experience"

[EFTA02129162]

The email is in the files. Sent September 11, 2013 from Julian Leese to Epstein. The email account shows the name "Gia Leese" in the From field, but the sender signs the email "Julian," and Lesley Groff's internal forwarding note to Epstein is titled "Tell Julian Leese what staff you need?" — same person, one name on the account, another in use. The email covers two topics: a pitch for an investment project ("the Michigan project") and, on a separate subject, staffing:

"please could you have Lesley email to exact criteria for the staff that you require as I believe that you will be able to get some very well trained Philippinos from Singapore individuals who have had service experience in five star hotels and cruise ships."

The sender knew Groff by name and was asking Epstein to have her send the staffing criteria. Leese is offering to source Filipino nationals with Singapore hotel and cruise-ship service backgrounds for Epstein's staff. The other emails in the thread — EFTA00705753, EFTA00383869 — show Groff forwarding this to Epstein and responding to Leese on his behalf.

Must Share News described this email accurately. The document shows Leese offering to supply Epstein with domestic staff from a specific demographic and professional background. Whether the offer was taken up, and what role any such staff would have served, is not documented in the files.

Evidence Table

Open Questions

1. What were the "events with Lee Kuan Yew" that Staley referenced in October 2012? Were these JPMorgan business meetings, or something arranged through Epstein's network?

2. What was Staley's outcome with GIC in July 2014? The files show the mission; the result is not documented.

3. What made Singapore "sticky and unpleasant" for Osborne in June 2012? He called it "not my favourite" the day before departing. Boris Nikolic was also there ten days earlier. No explanation appears in the files.

4. Why did Trestiza and Baker route Paris to Manila via Singapore in September 2016 rather than direct? The routing was deliberate and booked explicitly; the purpose is not documented.

5. Who sent EFTA00742231, and who is the unnamed male referred to as "He"? The sender is fully redacted. (The Julian Leese / Philippines / Singapore email has been located — see Section 8.)

6. Who organized the dinner at which Prince Andrew met Desmond Shum in May 2011?

Every factual claim in this report is tied to either a cited EFTA document or a named external source. Where a document is referenced in external reporting but not confirmed here, this is stated explicitly. No conclusion goes beyond what the cited evidence shows.