On Monday (Jul 17), two women were slapped with a four week jail sentence each for attempting to bribe police officers in two separate cases, according to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
The first case saw 48-year-old Chinese national Yu Xiaorong offering officer Lam Wai Kit $1,000 to let her go free after she was arrested for illegal bookmaking activities at Singapore Turf Club on Jul 17 last year.
She was recording her statement at Jurong Police Division when she attempted to buy her freedom, but Inspector Lam turned her down and reported what had happened to CPIB. On Friday (Jul 14), Yu pleaded guilty to one charge of corruptly offering gratification to an officer.
In the second case, 26-year-old Kazakhstan national Yelena Kalugina offered officer Loh Loong Ee a higher amount of $2,150 to evade arrest — she was being interrogated for suspected illegal activities at Hotel Royal along Newton Road on Jun 28.
Kalugina had already been warned about the offence of bribing police officers in Singapore, but she went ahead and tried to bribe her way out of her situation anyway. She pleaded to be released so she could take the next flight home, but Inspector Loh dismissed her bribe and placed her under arrest.
In light of these cases, the CPIB stated: “Singapore adopts a zero tolerance approach towards corruption. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau takes a serious view of any corrupt practices and will not hesitate to take action against any party involved in such acts.”
So the next time you think about bribing a public officer in Singapore, think twice. Anyone convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to a maximum of five years in jail, or both.
