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SINGAPORE: The prosecution in the corruption trial involving former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chief Ng Boon Gay, has asked for more time to determine if it needs to subpoena witnesses from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
The latest development follows discrepancies in the oral evidence and statements given by its key witness Ms Cecilia Sue Siew Nang.
46-year-old Ng is accused of obtaining oral sex from Ms Sue in 2011 on four occasions, in exchange for helping to further the business interests of two IT firms she worked for, Hitachi Data Systems and Oracle Singapore.
The prosecution's case against Ng Boon Gay was slated to wrap up on Tuesday - which is the sixth day of the 18-day trial, but this was not the case.
Lead deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Tan Ken Hwee asked the court for more time to determine if he needs to call up witnesses from the CPIB.
In making the application, he said there were assertions that Ms Cecilia Sue's CPIB statements were deemed unreliable.
Parts of her evidence given in court and her CPIB statements were contradictory.
She previously told authorities she and Ng were in a sexual relationship, but denied this in court.
The prosecution said the contradictions did not suggest Ms Sue made the CPIB statements under duress.
DPP Tan stressed that Ms Sue had given the statements voluntarily.
To clarify things, DPP Tan said he has to review the evidence.
But Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng, who represents Ng, objected, saying it is "extremely odd" for the DPP to seek clarification on "the voluntariness" of Ms Sue's statements.
He added the prosecution also had 10 months from the commencement of investigations to prepare its case.
Senior Counsel Tan asked: "Where is the evidence that prosecution said is now unclear from Ms Sue?"
The only unclear area, he said, was whether Ms Sue had a physical or intimate relationship with Ng.
And he said Ms Sue has clarified in court that they had an intimate relationship.
But DPP Tan said the issue arose from questions put to Ms Sue by the defence, so he now has to decide if he wants to summon the CPIB officers who recorded her statements.
The senior counsel said the prosecution should have made the clarifications earlier.
After hearing arguments from both parties, district judge Siva Shanmugam gave the prosecution until Friday to tell the defence if it intends to summon more witnesses.
The prosecution also has to furnish documents requested by the defence.
Three new prosecution witnesses also testified on Tuesday.
The third witness to take the stand was deputy director of CNB, Mr Marvin Sim, who explained the bureau's procurement process;
Vice-president and general manager of Hitachi Data Systems ASEAN, Mr Gunaravi Rajendran, explained how he came to hire Ms Sue and her role.
And Ms Anita Lai, the deputy director of performance and resource management at the Ministry of Finance, took to the stand later in the day and elaborated on government procurement policies.
The prosecution's first witness was Oracle Singapore's managing director, Mr Leslie Ong.
The prosecution proceeded with other witnesses after the defence said at the start of the hearing on Tuesday that it had no more questions for Ms Sue.
Ms Sue had testified for four days.
On Monday, prosecution turned against Ms Sue by applying to cross-examine her.
The unexpected move suggested she was treated as an uncooperative witness and that prosecution doubted parts of her evidence.
The trial will resume on 31st October.
- CNA/xq
The latest development follows discrepancies in the oral evidence and statements given by its key witness Ms Cecilia Sue Siew Nang.
46-year-old Ng is accused of obtaining oral sex from Ms Sue in 2011 on four occasions, in exchange for helping to further the business interests of two IT firms she worked for, Hitachi Data Systems and Oracle Singapore.
The prosecution's case against Ng Boon Gay was slated to wrap up on Tuesday - which is the sixth day of the 18-day trial, but this was not the case.
Lead deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Tan Ken Hwee asked the court for more time to determine if he needs to call up witnesses from the CPIB.
In making the application, he said there were assertions that Ms Cecilia Sue's CPIB statements were deemed unreliable.
Parts of her evidence given in court and her CPIB statements were contradictory.
She previously told authorities she and Ng were in a sexual relationship, but denied this in court.
The prosecution said the contradictions did not suggest Ms Sue made the CPIB statements under duress.
DPP Tan stressed that Ms Sue had given the statements voluntarily.
To clarify things, DPP Tan said he has to review the evidence.
But Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng, who represents Ng, objected, saying it is "extremely odd" for the DPP to seek clarification on "the voluntariness" of Ms Sue's statements.
He added the prosecution also had 10 months from the commencement of investigations to prepare its case.
Senior Counsel Tan asked: "Where is the evidence that prosecution said is now unclear from Ms Sue?"
The only unclear area, he said, was whether Ms Sue had a physical or intimate relationship with Ng.
And he said Ms Sue has clarified in court that they had an intimate relationship.
But DPP Tan said the issue arose from questions put to Ms Sue by the defence, so he now has to decide if he wants to summon the CPIB officers who recorded her statements.
The senior counsel said the prosecution should have made the clarifications earlier.
After hearing arguments from both parties, district judge Siva Shanmugam gave the prosecution until Friday to tell the defence if it intends to summon more witnesses.
The prosecution also has to furnish documents requested by the defence.
Three new prosecution witnesses also testified on Tuesday.
The third witness to take the stand was deputy director of CNB, Mr Marvin Sim, who explained the bureau's procurement process;
Vice-president and general manager of Hitachi Data Systems ASEAN, Mr Gunaravi Rajendran, explained how he came to hire Ms Sue and her role.
And Ms Anita Lai, the deputy director of performance and resource management at the Ministry of Finance, took to the stand later in the day and elaborated on government procurement policies.
The prosecution's first witness was Oracle Singapore's managing director, Mr Leslie Ong.
The prosecution proceeded with other witnesses after the defence said at the start of the hearing on Tuesday that it had no more questions for Ms Sue.
Ms Sue had testified for four days.
On Monday, prosecution turned against Ms Sue by applying to cross-examine her.
The unexpected move suggested she was treated as an uncooperative witness and that prosecution doubted parts of her evidence.
The trial will resume on 31st October.
- CNA/xq
