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MDA assistant director charged with corruption, forgery

The entrance to Singapore's Subordinate Courts is pictured here in a file photograph. (Yahoo file photo)

An assistant director of the Media Development Authority (MDA) was on Friday morning charged with taking loans of over $23,000 in exchange for facilitating grant applications for approval.

Lai Wai Khuen, 37, is accused to have, on 27 occasions, taken a total of $23,565 in loans, as well as an unsuccessful attempt to obtain a $3,000 loan from the managing director of publishing firm Dawn Ofedia Pte Ltd.

Lai allegedly took the loans from 12 individuals between 2010 and 2012.

Lai was also charged with three counts of forgery. He signed off on three documents as one Thomas Lim, a director with the authority, according to court documents.

Appearing in court on Friday in a collared white shirt and blue jeans, Lai requested to postpone subsequent mentions of his case to after Chinese New Year while indicating that he would plead guilty to his charges.

Prosecutors also said in court that they are likely to proceed on seven charges while taking into consideration the 24 others. They advised Lai to engage counsel to represent him.

Lai was out on police bail of $20,000 but it was raised to $30,000, a sum he is appealing against. His bail will be reviewed next week and his case will next be mentioned on 17 February.