Singapore jails company director for bribery
42-day jail term handed down to director of Hai Hup Huat Marine for bribing shipping agents and boarding officers.
A court in Singapore has sentenced Tan Chee Keong, the director of Hai Hup Huat Marine, to 42 days in prison. Mr Keong was found guilty of bribing boarding officers and shipping agents under the guise of “commssions”, “referral fees” or “loans”.
“These were in fact corrupt gratifications to induce the boarding officers and shipping agents to continue to engage Hai Hup Huat’s services in future,” Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said following Tan’s sentencing.
“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to SGD 100,000 or sentenced to = imprisonment of up to five years or to both,” the bureau said.
Hai Hup Huat Marine provides stevedoring and launch boat services in and around the Port of Singapore. When contacted by TradeWinds, the company said the conviction has not affected its day-to-day operations.
