45 weeks’ imprisonment for airport employee who received bribes of more than $200,000

A 45-year-old Singaporean man, a former associate director employed by Changi Airports International (CAI), was sentenced to 45 weeks’ jail receiving bribes totalling $215,237 from 2015 to 2017.

• The man pleaded guilty in the State Courts of Singapore. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges involving corruption and five charges involving forgery. Another 92 charges were taken into consideration for the purpose of sentencing. He was also ordered to repay the bribes received.
• According to reports, the man’s responsibilities in the company included procurement of IT-related services and products for the company. To commit the offences, the man used false supporting quotes on other companies’ letterheads and created false e-mail chains and false quotes based off genuine quotes that were previously submitted.
• It is unclear whether he was represented by a Criminal Defence Lawyer during the presentation of his mitigation plea and when the Court imposed the sentence.

Corruptly offering gratification is an offence under section 5(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap 241) which states:

5. Any person who shall by himself or by or in conjunction with any other person —
(a) corruptly solicit or receive, or agree to receive for himself, or for any other person; or
(b) corruptly give, promise or offer to any person whether for the benefit of that person or of another person,
any gratification as an inducement to or reward for, or otherwise on account of —
(i) any person doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction whatsoever, actual or proposed; or
(ii) any member, officer or servant of a public body doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction whatsoever, actual or proposed, in which such public body is concerned

A person convicted of this offence can be punished with a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

More information on the case may be found here.