Assertions about six ex-Keppel O&M staff show ‘inadequate understanding’: Indranee
THE assertions about the stern warnings issued by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on the Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) corruption scandal are based on an “inadequate understanding of facts”, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah in a Facebook post on Thursday (Feb 2).
The minister added that she will be explaining the facts of the probe in the next parliamentary session on Feb 6.
Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development, was addressing the assertions that surfaced after CPIB issued stern warnings against six individuals who were previously senior management staff of Keppel O&M.
The warnings were issued to the unnamed six individuals in lieu of prosecution for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
CPIB said the individuals had been investigated over allegedly conspiring with one another to give bribes amounting to about US$55 million to foreign consultants involved in Keppel O&M’s business interests in Brazil.
The money was then used to pay bribes to officials of Brazilian state-owned company Petrobras, pertaining to rig-building contracts that it or its related firms had awarded to Keppel O&M.
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Subsequently, the rig-builder was issued a conditional warning under the global resolution led by the US Department of Justice and involved Brazil and Singapore in lieu of prosecution. It later paid a total fine of US$422 million and fulfilled all obligations under the warning.
“As a country and as a government, we do not condone or tolerate corruption. This has always been our position, and continues to be so,” said Indranee.
“If there were grounds and sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges, they would have been brought. At the same time, criminal proceedings cannot be initiated based on sentiment.”
Separately, several Members of Parliament (MPs) have also filed parliamentary questions on the matter. The Workers’ Party, for example, has tabled more than seven questions to the prime minister with regard to the decision not to name the six former employees involved, the rationale behind issuing a stern warning, among others.
The Straits Times on Thursday also reported questions submitted by several People’s Action Party’s MPs on the topic. The MPs asked for more details on the reasons for issuing stern warnings in lieu of prosecution, a response from the government to concerns that the penalty is too light, and whether measures can be taken to improve the deterrence and prosecution of cross-boundary corruption.
Shares in Keppel Corporation slipped 0.4 per cent or S$0.03 to S$7.61 as at 2.51 pm, after the Facebook post was made.
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