Former LTA deputy group director charged with corruption

THE former deputy group director of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been charged with corruption.

Foo Yung Thye Henry, 46, is accused of having obtained gratification in the form of loans from contractors and sub-contractors of the LTA, who paid him S$1.24 million from 2014 to 2019 to advance their business interests with the LTA.

He faces 22 charges for these under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

He also faces one charge under the same act for attempting to obtain gratification in the form of a loan of about S$30,000 from a sub-contractor of the LTA, early last year, in exchange for advancing the sub-contractor's interests.

From 2008 to 2019, Foo also allegedly cheated his colleagues at the LTA into extending loans totalling S$726,500 to him. He concealed the fact that the loans were intended to service his gambling habit and debts.

For this he faces 13 charges under the Penal Code.

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In relation to the alleged offences committed by Foo under the PCA, six individuals and a company will be correspondingly charged as well.

They include Cai Jungang, 56, director of Tritech Engineering and Testing (Singapore); and Tiong Seng Contractors's Pay Teow Heng, 52 and Pek Lian Guan, 55, who are the company's director and managing director, respectively.

Cai loaned Foo S$285,000 to advance the business interests of Tritech with the LTA. At Tiong Seng, Pay conspired with Pek to advance loans to Foo totalling S$350,000.

On Friday morning, Singapore-listed Tiong Seng Holdings requested for a trading halt.

Tritech Group, meanwhile, announced on Friday morning that Cai, who is an executive director on its board, had resigned.

According to Tritech's annnouncement, Cai informed the board that he had been charged on July 23 under the PCA. The loans given by Cai to Foo were in Cai's personal capacity, he said.

Those convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to S$100,000 or sentenced to jail of up to five years or both.