2 probed for $11.8m fraud

[Diao Chan]

Sep 28, 2010
2 probed for $11.8m fraud

The two are believed to have faked invoices through various business entities to cheat the SLA of about $11.8 million. -- ST FILE PHOTO

TWO officers of the Singapore Land Authority are being probed for conspiring to cheat the SLA of about $11.8 million between January 2008 and March this year. The investigation follows the discovery of a number of irregular payments in the SLA's Technology and Infrastructure Department (TID) in June, said a joint statement from the SLA and Ministry of Law on Tuesday.

The two suspects are Koh Seah Wee, Deputy Director of TID, and Christopher Lim Chai Meng, Manager of TID. They are believed to have rendered false invoices through various business entities, for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods which were not delivered. The statement said the investigations against Koh's activities in SLA are largely complete and another tranche of charges was tendered against Koh in court on Tuesday morning. Koh has been charged with 249 counts of cheating and other offences.

Police are still investigating Lim, as well as the individuals running the business entities which are believed to have provided the false invoices. SLA said it had in place finance and procurement processes which were in accordance with Government guidelines. 'The two officers are suspected of conspiring with each other and with the said business entities, thus enabling them to circumvent the checks and balances in the processes,' it said. So far, cash and assets worth about $10 million have been recovered. The Ministry of Law has started disciplinary investigations on two officers whose oversight might have allowed the fraud to take place undetected.

'These investigations are in progress, and disciplinary action will be taken, if and where found appropriate,' said the joint statement. An independent review panel has been set up by the Law Ministry to look into how the irregularities could have taken place. It is chaired by a senior Government official of another ministry and comprises members from other ministries. It was also asked to recommend improvements to SLA's systems and processes. The Panel had recently completed its review and SLA has started implementing the recommendations.

 

[Magoichi Saika]

Flashy cars for wife, in-law


Sep 28, 2010

Singapore land authority fraud case

Flashy cars for wife, in-law

By Khushwant Singh

According to court documents, Koh Seah Wee (above), then with SLA's application services department, conspired with an ex-colleague Lim Chai Meng, to deceive SLA to pay large sums of money to 10 firms for computer and IT services from 2008 till March this year. -- PHOTO: FLICKR.COM

With the $11.8 million he allegedly took from conspiring with a colleague to cheat the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Koh Seah Wee, a former SLA deputy director, bought two flashy cars for his wife and mother-in-law. He gave his wife Yeing Nyok Sea, 38, a $1.6 million Lamborghini and his mum-in-law Kok A Mui a $300,000 Mercedes Benz coupe.

He is also believed to have used the money to buy property and invest in unit trusts and other financial products since 2008. Koh, 40, who is facing 237 charges of cheating the SLA of $11.8 million, was charged with an additional 12 counts on Tuesday.

According to court documents, Koh, then with SLA's application services department, conspired with an ex-colleague Lim Chai Meng, 37, to deceive SLA to pay large sums of money to 10 firms for computer and IT services from 2008 till March this year.

Seven of these companies were owned by businessman Ho Yen Teck, 31. If convicted of cheating in a district court, he could be fined up to $10,000 and jailed up to 10 years on each count. For concealing criminal proceeds, he could be fined up to $500,000 and/or jailed up to seven years.

 

[Magoichi Saika]

A Lamborghini Murcielago, similar to the one Koh Seah Wee bought for his wife. -- PHOTO: LAMBORGHINI

A Ferrari driver who lost control of his luxury car, estimated to be worth $300,000, sent it crashing through a guard rail and into a tree on Dec 19 2009. The driver is Lim Chai Meng, Koh Seah Wee's ex-colleague. They had both conspired to deceive SLA of large sums of money. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN


​

 

[lauhunku]

Cars, condos and shares


Sep 29, 2010
Cars, condos and shares

Court documents list several major purchases by former civil servant

By Liew Hanqing & Kimberly Spykerman

Koh Seah Wee bought luxury cars such as the Lamborghini Murcielago. --PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING PTE LTD

BETWEEN August 2008 and May this year, former civil servant Koh Seah Wee allegedly went on a shopping spree, the likes of which most people only dream about. Court documents alleged that he spent millions on everything from luxury cars to condominium apartments and shares.

In August 2008, he bought $150,000 worth of unit trusts and $50,000 of financial products. The following month, he bought a further $100,000 worth of financial products - DBS High Notes 10.

Between July 27 and Aug 24 last year, he paid in full - a sum of $900,000 - for a fifth-floor unit at Axis@Siglap, a 40-unit boutique condominium. Some time between July and September last year, he also bought an eighth-floor unit at Optima@Tanah Merah and registered it under his wife's name. He made a downpayment of $96,320.

 

[Luke Skywalker]

Ex-swim teacher probed


Sep 30, 2010

SINGAPORE LAND AUTHORITY FRAUD CASE

Ex-swim teacher probed

Mr Ho, 31, left the swim school in 2008. --PHOTO: INTERNET

HE QUIT his swimming instructor job to explore other 'business options'. Ho Yen Teck, 31, went on to set up at least seven shell corporations which allegedly received payments from former Singapore Land Authority officer Koh Seah Wee, who is accused of cheating the Government of $11.8 million.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Luke Skywalker]

Civil Service processes come under review


Civil Service processes come under review

by Leong Wee Keat
05:55 AM Sep 30, 2010

SINGAPORE - The Finance Ministry, which holds the purse strings for the Civil Service, is reviewing procurement and financial processes "to address possible areas of weakness and, where necessary, strengthen control measures against fraud".

The review comes in the wake of the alleged $11.8-million fraud at the Singapore Land Authority. Lessons learned from the case will be shared across all Government agencies, a Finance Ministry spokeswoman said yesterday in reply to MediaCorp's queries.

Two former officers at SLA had purportedly rendered false invoices over a two-year period for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods not delivered.

Koh Seah Wee, 40, has been charged in a District Court with 249 counts of cheating and other offences. Christopher Lim Chai Meng, 37, and several individuals running businesses that allegedly provided the false invoices, are assisting the police with investigations.

While the SLA has since put in place safeguards, a spokesperson yesterday told MediaCorp it is now also reviewing audit controls.

Court documents had shown that 30 of the IT contracts were awarded to a company with a seemingly misspelled name: MSB Techonogly And Services. Founder Ho Yen Teck spelled "technology" correctly in his six other businesses, which also had contracts with SLA.

Audits are carried out annually in the SLA by its internal audit department. The spokeswoman reiterated that Koh and Lim allegedly colluded together with the business entities "to circumvent the checks and balances in the system".

"Moreover, they supported the fraudulent payments with 'valid' invoices and approvals by authorised personnel in accordance with established procedures," she said yesterday.

The SLA was last audited by the Auditor-General's Office - on the management of state properties - in the 2007/08 financial year. The alleged offences occurred between January 2008 and March this year.

"Most statutory boards (including SLA) are audited by AGO on a rotation basis given AGO's limited resources. Such audits, carried out at least once in every five to seven years, are typically audits of selected areas," said an AGO spokeswoman. Audits of financial statements of statutory boards are done by commercial auditors annually.

While not wanting to prejudice the case, Member of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa, who sits on the Public Accounts Committee, welcomed the Finance Ministry's plan to share its findings across the Civil Service. He also felt a balance should be maintained between efficiency and having more checks.

The Finance Ministry stressed that "no system can provide a hundred-percent safeguard against fraud". "Supervising officers will need to exercise vigilance and ensure that audit processes are in compliance with Government rules," said the spokeswoman.

 

[Red 6]

Duo in SLA scam charged


Oct 6, 2010
Duo in SLA scam charged

By Elena Chong

Lim Chai Meng, 37, and Ho Yen Teck (above), 31, were charged with conspiring with Koh Seah Wee to cheat the SLA into believing that invoices they rendered for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods were genuine. --PHOTO: INTERNET

TWO more men in the $11.8 million Singapore Land Authority fraud case were brought to court on Wednesday. Lim Chai Meng, 37, a former manager of SLA's Technology and Infrastructure department, and Ho Yen Teck, 31, a former swimming instructor, were charged with conspiring with Koh Seah Wee to cheat the SLA into believing that invoices they rendered for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods were genuine.

The alleged offences took place between January 2008 and March this year. Lim faces 237 counts which are the same as Koh's while Ho was charged with 195 counts of cheating. Koh, 39 and former deputy director of TID, made news last week when more charges of how he spent the spoils were brought against him.

Koh, who faces a total of 249 charges, is said to have bought expensive cars and condominiums such as a $1.56 million Lamborghini registered in his wife's name, and a $900,000 unit at Axis@Siglap. He also invested in financial products and bought AIG shares.

Lim, represented by Mr Subhas Anandan and Mr Sunil Sudheesan, was remanded for a week. Ho, who has no lawyer, was offered bail of $100,000. His case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on Oct 19. If convicted of cheating, Lim and Ho can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each charge.

 

[Gundam]

27 more charges


Oct 13, 2010

SINGAPORE LAND AUTHORITY FRAUD SCANDAL

27 more charges

By Elena Chong

What he spent on: by Elena Chong

Lim Chai Meng allegedly concealed the benefits of his cheating offences by depositing some of his ill-gotten gains into the accounts of his family members. Court documents show that the 37-year-old deposited a total of $224,750 into the bank accounts or joint bank acounts of his wife, Madam Tina Gow Poh Choo, and mother-in-law, Madam Aw Lian Imm, between 2008 and June this year. He deposited $15,000 and $20,000 into one of his sons' POSB savings account and $10,000 each to the POSB Kids Trust accounts of two other children, a boy and a girl.

He also paid:

* $96,800 for a unit at Optima @ Tanah Merah;
* $224,490 for a property at Tanah Merah Kechil Avenue;
* $633,432 for five cars including a Porsche and a Ferrari;
* $61,258 for three watches; and
* $20,000 for unit trusts.

-- ST FILE PHOTO: GEORGE GASCON

A FORMER manager of Singapore Land Authority's technology and infrastructure department, accused of cheating the Government of $11.8 million, was charged with 27 more offences on Wednesday. Lim Chai Meng, 37, who was brought to court last week to face 237 charges, is accused in the fresh charges to have bought two properties, five cars, two watches and unit trusts from the benefits of his crime.

He is also alleged to have deposited sums of money ranging from $10,000 to $95,000 to the bank accounts of his wife, three children and mother-in-law.
Another charge states that he concealed $32,322 when he and his wife, Madam Tina Gow Poh Choo, handed it to her nephew, Mr Kow Yong Han, for safekeeping in June this year (2010). Lim is also said to have transferred about $526,000 into fixed deposit accounts with various banks in 2008.

The total amount involved in the 26 charges under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act is $1.87 million. A 27th fresh charge states that he conspired with one Lim Seow Fong to cheat Sing Investments last November by deceiving it into believing that he was working as a consultant at Nitaki Machine Movers with a $20,000 monthly pay, and thus dishonestly induced the company to grant him a $350,000 loan.

The prosecution asked for Lim to be remanded for a further week as investigation against him was still pending. Two others who have since been charged are SLA's ex-deputy director of TID Koh Seah Wee, 40, and ex-swimming instructor Ho Yen Teck, 31. The duo, who are in remand, face 249 and 195 charges respectively.

 

[chobolan]

SLA man faces more counts


Oct 14, 2010
SLA man faces more counts

By Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent

The total number of charges against Lim Chai Meng now numbers 264. -- ST FILE PHOTO

A FORMER Singapore Land Authority (SLA) manager accused of cheating the Government of $11.8 million was further charged with 27 counts involving $1.87 million. This brings the total number of charges against Lim Chai Meng to 264. One of Lim's alleged accomplices, Koh Seah Wee, 40, then deputy director in SLA's technology and infrastructure department, has already been charged with 249 counts of cheating and other offences.

The 37-year-old Lim was remanded again for another week as the prosecution said investigations were continuing. Clad in a red polo T-shirt, he appeared calm when the new charges were read to him. Court documents showed that he allegedly used his ill-gotten gains to buy two properties along Tanah Merah Kechil Avenue off New Upper Changi Road, five cars, three watches and unit trusts. He also deposited money into the bank accounts of his family members.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]

<hr align="center" size="1" width="50%">
Where some of the $1.8m went

$321,000 Lim allegedly used this amount to finance the purchases of a condominium at Optima @ Tanah Merah and a house.

$32,322 He and his wife allegedly passed this sum to their nephew in order to conceal it.

$20,000 to $350,000 Lim allegedly transferred these sums into fixed deposit accounts on six occasions.

$280,000 He allegedly put this total sum into the bank accounts of his wife, mother-in-law and three children.

 

[Dian Wei]

$1.5m bail for ex-SLA man


Oct 20, 2010
$1.5m bail for ex-SLA man

By Elena Chong

FORMER Singapore Land Authority manager Lim Chai Meng appeared in court a third time on Wednesday with no additional charges tendered. The 37-year-old, who faces 264 charges, was offered bail of $1.5 million but could not raise the amount.

He has been accused of conspiring with then deputy director of technology and infrastructure department of SLA, Koh Seah Wee, 40, of cheating the Government of $11.8 million by rendering false invoices through various business entities for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods not delivered.

The transactions took place between January 2008 and March this year. So far, police have recovered cash and assets worth about $10 million. A third man, former swimming instructor __ Yen Teck, 31, has also been charged with cheating the SLA of about $9.8 million.

The cases of Koh and __ - both in remand - have been scheduled for a further pre-trial conference on Nov 2. In court on Wednesday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ong Luan Tze said the prosecution was not ready to accept a plea and requested Lim's case to be fixed for a PTC on the same day as the other two.

 

[chobolan]

Ex-SLA man fails to post $1.5m bail


Oct 21, 2010
Ex-SLA man fails to post $1.5m bail

A FORMER Singapore Land Authority (SLA) manager accused of conspiring with two other men to defraud the Government of $11.8 million was offered bail of $1.5 million yesterday. But Lim Chai Meng, 37, could not post bail and was remanded in custody. No additional charges were filed. It was the third time he had appeared in court. He faces 264 charges, most relating to the alleged fraud.

Lim is said to have conspired with Koh Seah Wee, 40, and __ Yen Teck, 31, to cheat the SLA by rendering false invoices through various businesses for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods not delivered. The transactions allegedly took place between January 2008 and March this year. So far, police have recovered cash and assets worth about $10 million.

 

[bumblebee]

Ex-SLA officers involved in fraud case face additional 45 charges


Ex-SLA officers involved in fraud case face additional 45 charges
By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 02 November 2010 1709 hrs
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Singapore Land Authority </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td class="update"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>
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SINGAPORE : Two former senior executives from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), believed to be part of a scam involving nearly S$12 million, now face an additional 45 cheating charges each.

40-year-old Koh Seah Wee, who used to be a Deputy Director at SLA's Technology and Infrastructure Department, now faces 294 charges in all.

His ex-colleague from the same department, 37-year-old Lim Chai Meng faces similar additional changes.

Lim, who was a manager at SLA, now has 309 charges against him in all.

Koh, Lim and their alleged accomplice, 31-year-old businessman, Ho Yen Teck, will have another pre-trial conference in court on November 9.

If convicted of cheating, the men could be jailed up to 10 years and fined on each count. - CNA /ls

 

[Huang Zhong]

5 more charged in SLA case


Nov 9, 2010

5 more charged in SLA case

By Khushwant Singh

FIVE more men were charged on Tuesday with conspiring to cheat the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), bringing the total to eight hauled up to court so far. Tan Meng Teck, 42, faces 11 counts of cheating SLA of $388,260, while Png Teck Soon, 48, was charged with five counts amounting to $265,600.

Tan Peng Chong, 46, faces six cheating charges with a total amount of $15,251, while Seah Hwee Thong, 47, is accused of cheating the SLA of $388,260 in 12 counts. The fifth accused is Anthony Xavier Foo Doon Tong, 42, who was slapped with 45 counts amounting to $297,000. He is in remand while the others are out on police bail. Their next court date is on Dec 7.

 

[Cao Pi]

5 more charged with cheating


Nov 10, 2010

SLA SCAM

5 more charged with cheating

By Khushwant Singh

Tan Peng Chong (above) and Seah Hwee Thong are alleged to have each cheated the SLA on multiple occasions, for sums amounting to $153,000 and $388,000 respectively. -- ST PHOTOS: WONG KWAI CHOW

INVESTIGATIONS into the conspiracy to cheat the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) of $12 million widened on Tuesday, with five more people brought to court on cheating charges. This brings the number of people charged so far to eight.

One of the five accused yesterday was Tan Peng Chong, 46, the owner of Advent Enterprise, who is alleged to have cheated the SLA six times of a total sum amounting to $153,000, by failing to deliver computer services billed by his firm in 2008. Three other men are accused of doing the same for TPL Communication, although their involvement in the firm was not indicated:

Tan Meng Teck, 42, was charged on 11 counts of cheating the SLA of $388,000; Png Teck Soon, 48, faces five cheating charges amounting to $266,000, and Seah Hwee Thong, 47, is believed to have been involved in cheating the SLA of $388,000 in 12 instances.

The fifth man charged on Tuesday, Anthony Xavier Foo Doon Tong, faces 45 charges involving $297,000. The 42-year-old is a director of Ribbons and Rolls Marketing Services, which provides information technology supplies and networking solutions.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of the Straits Times.

 

[Cao Pi]

Tan Peng Chong and Seah Hwee Thong (above) are alleged to have each cheated the SLA on multiple occasions,
for sums amounting to $153,000 and $388,000 respectively. -- ST PHOTOS: WONG KWAI CHOW


​

 

[Huang Zhong]

Ex-SLA man faces 8 new charges


Nov 19, 2010

SLA CHEATING SCANDAL
Ex-SLA man faces 8 new charges

By Khushwant Singh

Koh Seah Wee

YEARS before Koh Seah Wee allegedly started a scam that eventually defrauded Singapore Land Authority (SLA) of close to $12 million, he was said to have started small in his previous posting as an assistant director of the information technology department at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Ipos).

He is believed to have deceived Ipos to pay out a total of $286,000 to Chartered Systems & Services for fictitious goods and services between December 2005 and March 2007. The revelation came as police extended investigations into all his previous postings during his 11-year tenure with Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

He was charged with eight new counts on Friday, bringing the total charges against him to 302. Koh, 40, is alleged to have conspired with computer firm Chartered Systems & Services to defraud Ipos in the purchase and supply of mainly maintenance services and firewalls for servers and computer networks, which were never delivered.

Koh initially faced 294 charges for defrauding SLA between January 2008 and March this year when he was deputy director of SLA's technology and infrastructure department. A manager in that department, Christopher Lim Chai Meng, 37, is also believed to be implicated and faces 309 charges. Investigations are on-going to see if Koh committed more offences in his other postings, one of which was with the Supreme Court.

 

[Huang Zhong]

SLA fraud 'human failure'


Nov 23, 2010

FRAUD AT SINGAPORE LAND AUTHORITY
SLA fraud 'human failure'

By Rachel Lin

Koh Seah Wee, 40, (above) may also have cheated the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Ipos) of $286,000, using similar methods.

THE alleged fraud case at the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) was not the result of lax public sector financial rules but human failure, two ministers said on Monday. Investigations have revealed that the root cause was a lack of vigilant supervision over the two former SLA executives charged with cheating the statutory board of $12.18 million.

Authorities have since recovered $10 million in cash and assets. Koh Seah Wee, 40, and Christopher Lim Chai Meng, 37, are said to have conspired with several businesses to win IT contracts from SLA, and then submitted false invoices for goods and services that were not delivered.

Koh may also have cheated the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Ipos) of $286,000, using similar methods. 'Certain officers at SLA and Ipos did not exercise sufficient supervision over Koh and Lim and had not carried out their audit responsibilities thoroughly,' said Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on Monday.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

 

[Firefox]

1st to plead guilty


Dec 15, 2010

SINGAPORE LAND AUTHORITY SCAM
1st to plead guilty

By Elena Chong

Ho Yen Teck (above), who has been in remand since he was charged, admitted to 21 counts of conspiring with former SLA deputy director Koh Seah Wee, 40, and manager Lim Chai Meng, 37 . -- PHOTO: FACEBOOK

A FORMER swimming instructor became the first among a group of eight to plead guilty in defrauding the Singapore Land Authority in a multi-million dollar scam.

Ho Yen Teck, who has been in remand since he was charged, admitted to 21 counts of conspiring with former SLA deputy director Koh Seah Wee, 40, and manager Lim Chai Meng, 37, to cheat the government of payments to seven entities between 2008 and March 2010. The total amount involved in the 195 charges is $9.8 million.

Ho's share in the scam was about $200,000, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Ong Luan Tze on Wednesday. She said that the 31-year-old was roped in by Koh at the end of 2007 when the latter was taking swimming lessons. Koh and Lim had schemed to circumvent the safeguards in the SLA's procurement system to come up with fake quotations, which Koh would approve, to get money.

Both were to arrange for their own 'vendors' to offer the lowest quotes. Besides helping to prepare fictitious invoices for the finance department, Lim was able to log into the government procurement portal, GeBiz, to enter the invitation-to-quote bids on behalf of those 'vendors'. He was able to see the bids which had been entered and determine the amount of quote and ensure that it was the lowest.

Koh told Ho to set up sole proprietorships to bid for IT projects with the SLA. Ho understood that the firms would not need to do any work for SLA, and that fake invoices would be prepared to be submitted to get payment.

In all, he set up seven such entities between December 2007 and November 2009, to deceive the SLA into paying between $740,618 and $1.9 million for alleged goods and services required by the technology and infrastructure department which never took place.

His lawyer Jackson Eng will mitigate on his behalf on Jan 7. Ho can be jailed for up to 10 years on each charge.

 

[CheesePie]

SLA fraud case: Koh slapped with additional 70 charges


Dec 30, 2010

SLA fraud case: Koh slapped with additional 70 charges

FORMER senior government executive Koh Seah Wee, facing multiple charges of defrauding the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) of more than of $12 million, was slapped with 70 more cheating charges in the Subordinate Courts this morning.

Some 63 of the charges allege that he helped procure IT supply and service contracts when he worked at the Supreme Court from 1997 to 2004 to two firms in which he had an undisclosed interest and share in the profits.

The remaining additional seven cheating charges read out on Thursday were alleged to have been committed against the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.

Koh, 40, now faces a total of 372 charges altogether and currently in remand.

The Deputy Public Prosecutor gave notice that application will be made for the case against Koh to be shifted for trial in the High Court.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court announced an Independent Review Panel chaired by Justice Quentin Loh and comprising officers from two government departments has been set up to review the Supreme Court's procurement processes.

It will also review internal controls and make recommendations.

 

[Sagat]

Jan 7, 2011

Accused in SLA scam should be jailed for a long time: Prosecutor

By Elena Chong

EX-SWIMMING instructor Ho Yen Teck who is the first accused in the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) $12 million scam to admit to his crimes should be jailed for a long time, said a prosecutor on Friday.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jean Chan said the 31-year-old played a significant role and was a persistent offender working hand-in-glove with his co-conspirators.

The court heard that SLA was induced to award a total of 195 contracts to Ho's seven sole proprietorships which received $9.8 million between January 2008 and March 2010.

Ho had admitted to 21 charges of conspiring with Koh Seah Wee and Lim Chai Meng to cheat the SLA by rendering false invoices for fictitious IT maintenance services and goods which were not delivered.

Both Koh, 40, and Lim, 37, were then working in SLA. Their cases are pending. Another 174 counts will be taken into consideration when Ho is sentenced next week.

Arguing for a stiff sentence, DPP Chan said the offences were committed against a public institution over a substantial period of time, resulting in the loss of an astronomically large sum of public funds.

Ho, DPP Chan said, played a pivotal role in the conspiracy. She said the offences seriously undermined the integrity of the public procurement process.

Pleading for leniency, his lawyer Jackson Eng said Ho was no more than a puppet in the entire exercise. Of the $9.8 million received from SLA, Ho only received about $200,000.

He had voluntarily surrendered $53,799 to the police and was offering to make another $3,800.

Counsel said the offences were borne out of Ho's personal difficulties. Ho can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each charge.