Fined $10,000 for bribes

[Taishi Ci]

Aug 2, 2010
Fined $10,000 for bribes

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A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND welfare officer was fined $10,000 by a district court on Monday for accepting bribes from the owner of a transport company to ensure that its bid for a contract would succeed. Eric Lau Yeow Hui, 32, was also ordered to pay a penalty of $17,500, which is the total amount of bribes he received from October 2005 and March 2007.

In passing sentence, Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye warned that all forms of corruption must be eradicated, 'otherwise, corruption will spread rapidly, take root and slowly destroy the fabric of society'. While acknowledging that corruption in the public sector was far more serious and usually warrant a jail term, the judge added that corruption in the business sector was also harmful as it erodes ethical conduct and good governance.

Last Wednesday, Lau, who is now unemployed, admitted to leaking information on competitive bids to Mr Ng Chew Chuah of Ming Chuan Transportation & Coach Services, thus allowing Mr Ng to submit a revised bid. Thanks to the inside information from Lau, Mr Ng's firm was granted the one-year contract from September 2005. The next month, the transport firm boss handed $500 to Lau at a coffee shop in Havelock Road.

Subsequent monthly payments were $1,000 each. This corrupt arrangement came to end only when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau received a tip-off in late 2007. Lau was fined $2,000 for accepting the $500 bribe and fined $4,000 each on two counts of receiving $1,000. The remaining 15 charges were taken into consideration by the judge. The maximum punishment is a $100,000 fine and a five-year jail term.

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[Taishi Ci]

Former SPD welfare worker fined $10,000 on corruption charges


Former SPD welfare worker fined $10,000 on corruption charges
Posted: 02 August 2010 1339 hrs
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SINGAPORE: A former welfare programme coordinator of the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) was fined $10,000 in court Monday morning on three corruption charges.

Lau Yeow Hui, who is wheelchair bound, was also ordered to pay a penalty of $17,500.

The 32-year-old had approached Mr Ng Chew Chuah in 2005 to ask if he was keen to be SPD's transport provider during a tender exercise.

Mr Ng showed interest in Lau's offer and promised to reward him for his help.

Lau revealed to Mr Ng the price quoted by other companies and advised him on the amount to be quoted.

Lau also allowed Mr Ng to re-submit a revised quotation and gave favourable feedback on his services.

Mr Ng paid Lau a total of $17,500 from October 2005 to March 2007 for his assistance.

- CNA/jm