SINGAPORE: Corruption charges against a Housing and Development Board (HDB) senior estate manager and the director of a construction firm were withdrawn on Monday (Sep 16).
HDB manager Tan Siam Chua, 61, and Liong Construction director Liong Ah Chye, 62, were each given one charge of corruption in September last year.
On Monday, both men were granted a discharge amounting to acquittal. This means they cannot be charged again over the same offence.
Mr Tan had been accused of instigating Mr Liong to give a false quotation to mislead the Housing Board.
Mr Liong's lawyers, Mr Tang Shangwei and Ms Dorcas Ong from WongPartnership, argued that the quotation given to HDB was "genuine and legitimate".
Liong Construction was "ready and willing to perform the said job", added the defence lawyers.
Mr Liong said in a statement that he was happy that the matter had come to an end.
"The acquittal has vindicated my decision to contest the charges from the very start," he added.
"This is because my conscience has always been clear and that I have not done any wrong and have never issued any false quotation.
"With the proceedings firmly behind me, I can now close this chapter of my life and focus on my business.
"The past year has been difficult and I am thankful for my family, business partners, employees and lawyers, who stood by me and my company during this time."
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HDB manager Tan Siam Chua, 61, and Liong Construction director Liong Ah Chye, 62, were each given one charge of corruption in September last year.
On Monday, both men were granted a discharge amounting to acquittal. This means they cannot be charged again over the same offence.
Mr Tan had been accused of instigating Mr Liong to give a false quotation to mislead the Housing Board.
Mr Liong's lawyers, Mr Tang Shangwei and Ms Dorcas Ong from WongPartnership, argued that the quotation given to HDB was "genuine and legitimate".
Liong Construction was "ready and willing to perform the said job", added the defence lawyers.
Mr Liong said in a statement that he was happy that the matter had come to an end.
"The acquittal has vindicated my decision to contest the charges from the very start," he added.
"This is because my conscience has always been clear and that I have not done any wrong and have never issued any false quotation.
"With the proceedings firmly behind me, I can now close this chapter of my life and focus on my business.
"The past year has been difficult and I am thankful for my family, business partners, employees and lawyers, who stood by me and my company during this time."
Continue reading...