Former Ang Mo Kio Town Council GM charged with accepting bribes worth S$107,000

A FORMER general manager and secretary of Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) who allegedly took bribes from two building firms and their director was on Wednesday charged with corruption.

Wong Chee Meng, 58, who is also known as Victor Wong, faces 55 counts of corruptly accepting gratification worth about S$107,000 in total from the director of 19-ANC Enterprise and 19-NS2 Enterprise, in exchange for advancing the business interests of the firms with the town council, according to court documents.

These bribes included overseas remittances to his mistress in China, a job for his daughter-in-law, entertainment expenses at KTV lounges, a S$13,500 discount on the purchase price of a car and the use of a mobile phone line.

The alleged offences took place between December 2014 and September 2016.

His alleged co-conspirator, Chia Sin Lan, 62, a director and shareholder of 19-ANC Enterprise and 19-NS2 Enterprise, is accused of 54 counts of corruptly giving gratification and one count of abetment by conspiring with 19-ANC's project director Yip Fong Yin to corruptly give Wong the S$13,500 car purchase discount in December 2014.

Chia's companies also each face one charge of conspiring to corruptly give Wong gratification to advance their business interests with the town council. According to the Building and Construction Authority directory, both firms are licensed builders, and are also registered to carry out repair and redecoration works.

Wong, who worked for CPG Facilities Management, the managing agent of the town council, was removed from duty after the town council received a complaint about him in September 2016 about "the way he handles contracts and dealings in the town council".

He was later investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

The town council appointed a new general manager, Mr Ang Boon Peng, in April last year - about five months after Wong was removed. The general manager is the most senior executive in the town council, similar to a chief executive in a private company.

Wong and Chia intend to claim trial and are out on S$100,000 bail each. Their passports have been impounded. Their case will be heard on April 11.

If convicted, they each could be fined up to S$100,000 and jailed for up to seven years, or both, on each charge.

The companies could also be each fined up to S$100,000 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In a statement, the CPIB said that Singapore adopts a zero tolerance approach towards corruption. The bureau "takes a serious view of any corrupt practices and will not hesitate to take action against any party involved in such acts."

THE STRAITS TIMES