SINGAPORE: Three Singaporeans who bribed an Indonesian embassy official three years ago were sentenced to jail on Monday (Aug 23), the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement.
The case centred on a S$6,000 performance bond, which the Indonesian embassy in Singapore made compulsory in 2018 for all employers hiring foreign domestic workers from Indonesia.
Agus Ramdhany Machjumi, who was the labour attache of the embassy at the time, was in charge of issuing accreditation to insurers for the bond.
He told 66-year-old Abdul Aziz Mohamed Hanib to find insurance companies or agents who would give them a share of the premiums collected, in exchange for accreditation.
Aziz, a freelance translator, then roped in 50-year-old James Yeo Siew Liang, who was an insurance agent for AIG Asia Pacific Insurance and Liberty Insurance.
Through Aziz, Yeo gave bribes amounting to S$71,211 to Agus between March and June 2018, as reward for accrediting AIG and Liberty to sell the performance bonds.
Yeo also gave Aziz a total of about S$21,363.30 for making the arrangement with Agus.
Aziz was also found to have tried to get another individual to join the scheme, for Agus to show favour to Tokio Marine Insurance Singapore. But the person did not take up the offer.
The court sentenced Aziz to 17 months’ jail and a fine of S$18,299.82 on Monday.
Yeo was sentenced to 15 months’ jail and fined S$21,363.30.
The third man, Benjamin Chow Tuck Keong, 58, who had introduced Aziz to Yeo, was sentenced to one month’s jail and fined S$4,574.96.
The trio, who were already convicted in April 2021, were charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
CPIB said: “The Indonesian authorities have been in touch with CPIB about this case.
“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to S$100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both.”
CNA has contacted the Indonesian embassy for more information.
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The case centred on a S$6,000 performance bond, which the Indonesian embassy in Singapore made compulsory in 2018 for all employers hiring foreign domestic workers from Indonesia.
Agus Ramdhany Machjumi, who was the labour attache of the embassy at the time, was in charge of issuing accreditation to insurers for the bond.
He told 66-year-old Abdul Aziz Mohamed Hanib to find insurance companies or agents who would give them a share of the premiums collected, in exchange for accreditation.
Aziz, a freelance translator, then roped in 50-year-old James Yeo Siew Liang, who was an insurance agent for AIG Asia Pacific Insurance and Liberty Insurance.
Through Aziz, Yeo gave bribes amounting to S$71,211 to Agus between March and June 2018, as reward for accrediting AIG and Liberty to sell the performance bonds.
Yeo also gave Aziz a total of about S$21,363.30 for making the arrangement with Agus.
Aziz was also found to have tried to get another individual to join the scheme, for Agus to show favour to Tokio Marine Insurance Singapore. But the person did not take up the offer.
The court sentenced Aziz to 17 months’ jail and a fine of S$18,299.82 on Monday.
Yeo was sentenced to 15 months’ jail and fined S$21,363.30.
The third man, Benjamin Chow Tuck Keong, 58, who had introduced Aziz to Yeo, was sentenced to one month’s jail and fined S$4,574.96.
The trio, who were already convicted in April 2021, were charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
CPIB said: “The Indonesian authorities have been in touch with CPIB about this case.
“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to S$100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both.”
CNA has contacted the Indonesian embassy for more information.
Continue reading...