NLB Assistant Director And 10 Other Individuals Charged For Alleged Corruption and Other Offences

On 7 February 2024, Chan Siew Leng, Adrian (“Adrian”) (陈秀龙, 48-year-old male Singaporean), Assistant Director of the National Library Board (“NLB”) at the material time, was charged for alleged offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Penal Code and Official Secrets Act. Ten other individuals were also charged in connection to his alleged offences. They were:

a) Puan Kai Hsiong (“Kai Hsiong”) (潘鹏全, 49-year-old male Singaporean), Director of Pan Prebuild Pte Ltd (“Pan Prebuild”) at the material time;

b) Francis Lim Boon Hor (“Francis”) (49-year-old male Malaysian), Sales Director of Broadcast Engineering Services Pte Ltd (“BES”) at the material time;

c) Tan Lai Heng (“Lai Heng”) (陳鯠伈, 63-year-old male Singaporean), Director of BES at the material time;

d) Lien Hoi Choon (“Hoi Choon”) (68-year-old male Singaporean), Director of BES at the material time;

e) Tan Wei Ming, John Paul (“John Paul”) (陈伟明, 40-year-old male Singaporean), Senior Sales Manager of Broadcast Professional Pte Ltd (“Broadcast Professional”) at the material time;

f) Fong Choon Yew (“Choon Yew”) (冯俊耀, 52-year-old male Singaporean); Director of Broadcast Professional at the material time;

g) Ho Chan Shen (“Chan Shen”) (57-year-old male Singaporean), Sales Director of Broadcast Professional at the material time;

h) Kwa Kaoh Wee (“Kaoh Wee”) (柯高偉, 48-year-old male Singaporean); Director of Multimedia Maestro Pte Ltd (“Multimedia Maestro”) at the material time;

i) Soh Ling Ling (“Ling Ling”) (苏玲玲, 44-year-old female Singaporean); Director of Multimedia Maestro at the material time; and

j) Tan Hong Liang (“Hong Liang”) (50-year-old male Singaporean); Sole Proprietor of Integra Interactive (“Integra”) at the material time.

Alleged Corruption Offences

2. Over several occasions between 2018 and 2020, Adrian allegedly obtained a total of S$50,000 in bribes from Kai Hsiong as reward for advancing the business interest of Pan Prebuild with the NLB. For their alleged actions, Adrian and Kai Hsiong face four charges each for offences punishable under Section 6(a) and Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act respectively, of which one charge is amalgamated pursuant to Section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

3. Over several occasions between 2018 and 2019, Adrian allegedly obtained a total of another S$90,000 in bribes from Francis (who allegedly conspired with Lai Heng and Hoi Choon to give Adrian these monies), as inducement for advancing the business interest of BES with the NLB. For their alleged actions, Adrian faces three charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Francis, Lai Heng and Hoi Choon face three charges each for offences punishable under Section 6(b) and Section 7 read with Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Alleged Falsification of Quotation Offences

4. Sometime in or about April 2018, Adrian allegedly instigated John Paul of Broadcast Professional to knowingly give to him, as agent of the NLB, false quotations from Multimedia Maestro and Integra Interactive for the tender for the “Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing, Commissioning of a Fully Operational Digital Cinema System with an Option for Maintenance and Operating of Specialised Equipment at the Oldham Theatre of the National Archives of Singapore, for the National Library Board”, with the intention of misleading the NLB.

5. John Paul allegedly conspired with various individuals to provide these false quotations, namely:

a) Choon Yew, Chan Shen, Kaoh Wee and Ling Ling for the false quotation from Multimedia Maestro, which Ling Ling submitted to the NLB on 19 April 2018; and

b) Choon Yew and Hong Liang for the false quotation from Integra Interactive, which Hong Liang submitted to the NLB on 19 April 2018.

6. For their alleged actions, Adrian, John Paul, and Choon Yew face two charges each, while Chan Shen, Kaoh Wee, Ling Ling and Hong Liang face one charge each, for offences punishable under Section 6(c) and Section 7 read with Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Alleged Cheating Offences

7. Sometime in or about March 2018, Adrian allegedly conspired with Francis of BES to cheat the NLB by dishonestly concealing from the NLB that variations to the contract for the “Appointment of a Contractor to Ramp up the Audio Visual Infrastructure and Systems of the National Archives of Singapore, for the NLB” resulted in savings of S$245,720. As such, the NLB was dishonestly induced to pay this additional sum to BES on 2 May 2018. For their alleged actions, Adrian and Francis face one charge each for an offence punishable under section 420 read with section 109 of the Penal Code.

8. Further, sometime in or before March 2019, Adrian allegedly conspired with Kai Hsiong of Pan Prebuild (a sub-contractor of BES) to cheat BES that Pan Prebuild had completed all the works stated in a certain Delivery Order concerning works to be performed on the premises of the National Archives of Singapore, when they knew this was false. As such, BES was dishonestly induced to pay SS$30,000 to Pan Prebuild on 3 April 2019. For their alleged actions, Adrian and Kai Hsiong face one charge each for an offence punishable under Section 420 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code.

Alleged Official Secrets Act Offence

9. On 9 February 2018, Adrian sent information concerning comments relating to the budgetary quote for the Oldham Theatre project via Whatsapp to John Paul, who was not authorised to receive such information. The information had been entrusted in confidence to Adrian by a person holding office under the Government. For his alleged action, Adrian faces one charge for an offence under Section 5(1)(d)(i) and which is punishable under Section 17(2) of the Official Secrets Act.

10. The case against Adrian was referred to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau by the Auditor-General’s Office.

11. Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence under Section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, can be fined up to S$100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both. If the offence is additionally punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the imprisonment term can extend up to seven years. Any person who is convicted of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code can be sentenced to imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and is liable to a fine. Any person who is convicted of an offence under Section 5(1)(d)(i) of the Official Secrets Act can be fined up to S$2,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to two years.

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau