Quora Answer: Can I Get the Father of My Child Convicted under the Hague Convention for Abducting Him from Malaysia to Singapore?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “My child has been abducted by his Singaporean father, from Malaysia to Singapore, without my consent, from our place of residence in Malaysia.  Can he be convicted under the Hague Convention, even if Malaysia is not a member?”

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as its name suggest, has no bearing on this matter even if Malaysia were a signatory.  Singapore has acceded to the convention.  This conventions concerns the return of a child abducted, by one parent, to the country of legal domicile.

It has not been ascertained whether a crime has actually taken place.  All we have is your word for it.  Singapore and Malaysia have an extradition treaty, and the law enforcement agencies of both nations work closely together.  If you feel that there was an abduction, then you should make a police report to that effect, and allow the system to takes its course.