13/01/2023

"Jailed for $1 bribes" Vs "Stern warnings for bribery-related offences"


Forklift operator jailed for collecting bribes of between 10 cents and $1 from drivers
Chen Ziliang ran a scheme from Feb 1, 2016, to March 12 2018, earning up to $10 in bribes daily. PHOTO: CORRUPT PRACTICES INVESTIGATION BUREAU

To jump the queue so that they can promptly collect or return their containers, truck drivers had to pay Chen Ziliang bribes of between 10 cents and $1.

On Thursday (Jan 10), the container yard forklift operator was jailed for two months and ordered to pay a penalty of $4,870.50, after pleading guilty to a corruption charge. Chen ran the scheme from Feb 1, 2016, to March 12 last year, earning up to $10 in bribes daily. Those who did not bribe the Chinese national had to endure a longer waiting time, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ang Siok Chen told the court.

In a statement on Thursday, the CPIB said: "Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. It is a serious offence to obtain bribes, or attempt to obtain bribes from another individual or entity." Offenders convicted of corruption can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $100,000.


Forklift operator jailed 2 months for taking mostly $1 bribes

A forklift operator at a container yard allowed truck drivers to beat a queue to load or unload their containers in return for small sums of 10 cents to $1, a court heard.

For two years, Chen Ziliang collected about $7 to $10 daily from the corrupt practice. By the time anti-graft officers caught him red-handed, the 47-year-old Chinese national had accepted $4,872.50 in bribes.

At the State Courts on Thursday (10 January), Chen was jailed for two months and ordered to pay a penalty of $4,870.50. If he fails to pay the amount, he would have to serve another two weeks in jail.


Jailed Over One Dollar Bribes

There is no limit on the bribe amount that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) can and will investigate, even if the amount is as small as one dollar. A bribe of one dollar is still an offence.

On 10 January 2019, a forklift operator employed by Cogent Container Depot Pte Ltd (“Cogent”) was jailed for corruption. Chen Ziliang (陈 子 良), a 47-year-old male, was sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a penalty of $4,870.50, for embarking on a course of conduct to obtain bribes from truck drivers at Cogent.

Chen was responsible for operating forklifts for the loading or unloading of containers for truck drivers. Investigations by the CPIB revealed that in October 2017, a truck driver had confronted Chen after having to wait for a considerably long time in the queue. Chen then informed the driver that it was the norm for truck drivers to pay one dollar, or risk having to wait longer in the queue or be given containers that were in a bad condition. In March 2018, when Chen was arrested by the CPIB, coins amounting to $2 were found on the mudguard of the forklift operated by Chen.


6 ex-Keppel O&M employees given stern warnings over bribes amounting to $73 million
The employees allegedly conspired to give bribes to foreign consultants involved in Keppel O&M’s business interests in Brazil. PHOTO: KEPPEL CORP

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) issued stern warnings on Wednesday to six former senior management staff of Keppel Offshore & Marine (O&M) over bribe payments. CPIB conducted investigations into the six, who allegedly conspired with one another to give bribes amounting to about US$55 million (S$73 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. The offences fall under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Under a global resolution led by the US Department of Justice and involving Brazil and Singapore, a conditional warning in lieu of prosecution was issued to Keppel O&M for offences punishable under the Act. Keppel O&M has paid a total fine of US$422 million and fulfilled all obligations under the conditional warning.

“This case is complex and transnational, involving multiple authorities and witnesses from several countries... Many of the documents are located in different jurisdictions. In addition, key witnesses are located outside of Singapore and cannot be compelled to give evidence here,” said CPIB in a statement on Thursday. “The decision on whether to prosecute the six individuals for criminal offences has to take into consideration all relevant factors, such as the culpability of each individual, the available evidence and what is appropriate in the circumstances. Having taken these into consideration, stern warnings were issued to the six individuals.”


Six former Keppel O&M staff issued stern warnings for bribery-related offences
Six former senior management staff of Keppel Corporation’s Offshore & Marine unit are being issued stern warnings for bribery-related offences. PHOTO: BT FILE

THE Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has issued stern warnings to six individuals who were previously senior management staff of Keppel Corporation’s Offshore & Marine (O&M) unit, on Thursday (Jan 12).

The warnings were issued to the six individuals in lieu of prosecution for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). The six individuals were not named. The offences relate to bribe payments to officials of Brazilian state-owned corporation Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobras), pertaining to rigs building contracts which Petrobras and/or its related companies had awarded to Keppel O&M. CPIB conducted investigations into the six individuals who had allegedly conspired with each other to give bribe payments totalling about US$55 million to foreign consultants involved in Keppel O&M’s business interests in Brazil. These consultants then used these monies to pay bribes to Petrobras officials.

This case is complex and transnational, involving multiple authorities and witnesses from several countries, CPIB said. It added that there are evidentiary difficulties in cases of such nature. Many of the documents are located in different jurisdictions. In addition, key witnesses are located outside of Singapore and cannot be compelled to give evidence here. The decision on whether to prosecute the six individuals for criminal offences has to take into consideration all relevant factors, such as the culpability of each individual, the available evidence and what is appropriate in the circumstances. CPIB has since issued stern warnings to the six individuals.


Inside the Keppel Corporation Corruption Scandal
Former AG criticises Govt for not prosecuting Keppel management in 1995 bribery case

Former Attorney-General Walter Woon wrote an article, which was published in ST today ('Punishing corporate corruption', 30 Apr), criticising the government for not prosecuting the Keppel management involved in the 1995 bribery case.

In June 1995, Keppel was cited in a UK probe into a bribery scandal involving an Exxon subsidiary's employee. The person, Cornelius Van der Horst, who handled ship repair contracts at Exxon's subsidiary, was charged with accepting bribes from Keppel Shipyard. As a result, on Singapore's end, then Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng announced that CPIB had also initiated investigation into the case. The case was finally brought up in Singapore court in Dec 1997.

In court, it was revealed that Keppel's marketing manager Chan Lim Hong and its Senior General Manager, Kung Yew Hock, had entertained Van der Horst at Club Kabuki in Orchard Road. Kung reportedly told Van der Horst, "If that side (Keppel's competitor) takes care of you, we can also take care of you."


Indranee Rajah on why Keppel ex-employees were not prosecuted in Petrobras corruption case
Ms Indranee Rajah speaking in Parliament on Mon 6 Feb 2023

Six former senior management staff members of Keppel Offshore & Marine were not prosecuted over a multi-million dollar bribery case because there was insufficient evidence to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah in Parliament on Monday (Feb 6). Instead, they received stern warnings.

Speaking in Parliament, Ms Indranee outlined the difficulties Singapore authorities faced in gathering evidence and getting potential key overseas witnesses to testify in Singapore.


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