Inspections Compromised by Alleged Corruption

Corrupt and dishonest acts can compromise the integrity of inspections and checks. Individuals who engage in such acts will be strictly dealt with in accordance to the law.

2. On 22 July 2020, four individuals will be charged in court with the following offences that were committed sometime between September 2017 and September 2018:

a) Lee Mun Cheng (李文真), a 53-year-old male Singaporean and Resident Technical Officer (Mechanical) of CPG Consultants Pte Ltd (“CPG”) at the material time

i. 9 counts of corruptly agreeing to accept about $5,320 in the form of endorsed overtime work (that did not occur) from Guo Jiaxun (“Guo”), a Deputy Project Manager of Newcon Builders Pte Ltd (“Newcon”) and/or Rajendran Thiagarajan (“Thiagarajan”), a Mechanical & Electrical Coordinator of Newcon, as inducements for Lee’s leniency in the inspections for the mechanical construction works in the Customs Operations Command Complex (“COCC”). These constituted offences punishable under Section 6(a) read with Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.

ii. 9 counts of engaging in a conspiracy with Guo, Lin Haifeng (“Lin”), a Senior Project Manager of Newcon, and/or Thiagarajan, to wilfully and intentionally defraud and falsify papers belonging to CPG by signing overtime list claim forms which falsely stated that Lee worked over time on multiple occasions when he did not. These constituted offences punishable under Section 477A read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

iii. 9 counts of cheating by submitting meal claims on occasions when he (Lee) did not work onsite nor incur the cost for meals. As a result, he dishonestly induced Newcon to reimburse meal claims totalling $65 to him. These constituted offences punishable under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

b) Guo Jiaxun, a 34-year-old male PRC National and Deputy Project Manager of Newcon Builders Pte Ltd (“Newcon”) at the material time

i. 8 counts of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with Lin and/or Thiagarajan to corruptly agree to give about $3,780 in the form of endorsed overtime work (that did not occur) to Lee Mun Cheng (“Lee”), a Resident Technical Officer (Mechanical) of CPG, as inducements for Lee’s leniency in inspections for the mechanical construction works in the COCC. These constituted offences punishable under Section 6(b) read with Section 7 and Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.

ii. 8 counts of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with Lin, Thiagarajan and/or Lee to wilfully and intentionally defraud and falsify papers belonging to CPG, by signing overtime list claim forms which falsely stated that Lee worked overtime on multiple occasions when he did not. These constituted offences punishable under Section 477A read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

c) Lin Haifeng (林海峰), a 45-year-old male Singaporean and Senior Project Manager of Newcon at the material time

i. 9 counts of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with Guo and/or Thiagarajan to corruptly agree to give about $5,320 in the form of endorsed overtime work (that did not occur) to Lee, as inducements for Lee’s leniency in the inspections for the mechanical construction works in the COCC. These constituted offences punishable under Section 6(b) read with Section 7 and Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.

ii. 9 counts of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with Guo, Thiagarajan and/or Lee to wilfully and intentionally defraud and falsify papers belonging to CPG, by instructing either Guo or another Senior Mechanical and Electrical Coordinator of Newcon to sign on overtime list claim forms which falsely stated that Lee worked over time on multiple occasions when he did not. These constituted offences punishable under Section 477A read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

d) Rajendran Thiagarajan, a 33-year-old male Indian National and Mechanical & Electrical Coordinator of Newcon at the material time

i. 7 counts of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with Guo and/or Lin to corruptly agree to give about $5,050 in the form of endorsed overtime work (that did not occur) to Lee, as inducements for Lee’s leniency in the inspections for the mechanical construction works in the COCC. These constituted offences punishable under Section 6(b) read with Section 7 and Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241.

ii. 7 counts of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with Guo, Lin and/or Lee to wilfully and intentionally defraud and falsify papers belonging to CPG, by procuring the signature of either Guo or a Senior Mechanical and Electrical Coordinator of Newcon on overtime list claim forms which falsely stated that Lee worked overtime work on multiple occasions when he did not. These constituted offences punishable under Section 477A read with Section 109 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.

3. Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and other criminal activities. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to 5 years or to both. Any person convicted of a corruption offence where the matter or transaction in relation to the offence was a contract with the Government or any public body or a subcontract to execute any work comprised in such a contract can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to 7 years or to both. Any person who is convicted of the falsification of accounts wilfully and with the intention to defraud can be sentenced to imprisonment of up to 10 years, or with a fine, or with both.

4. The CPIB looks into all corruption complaints and reports, including anonymous ones, and can be reached via the following channels:

a) Write to us at the CPIB Headquarters @ 2 Lengkok Bahru, S159047;
b) Call the Duty Officer at 1800-376-0000;
c) Lodge an e-Complaint; or
d) Email us at report@cpib.gov.sg

5. Where possible, the report should include the following information:

a) Where, when and how the alleged corrupt act happened?
b) Who was involved and what were their roles?
c) What was the bribe given and the favour shown?

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau