Ang Mo Kio Town Council corruption case: Prosecution seeks jail of more than 4 years for duo
SINGAPORE — The prosecution is seeking a jail term of at least four years and eight months for a former general manager and secretary of Ang Mo Kio Town Council who pleaded guilty to graft charges.
It also sought a financial penalty of $23,398.09 against Wong Chee Meng, 59, at the State Courts on Wednesday (June 26).
Wong admitted in March to three counts of receiving bribes in the form of a $13,500 discount on a purchase of a car, about $27,800 in remittances to his mistress in China and $34,070.40 in entertainment expenses - at various KTV lounges, restaurants, massage parlours and a hotel.
Two other similar charges will be taken into consideration when he is sentenced on 23 August. The total amount involved across all the five charges is $86,141.49.
The offences were committed between December 2014 and July 2016.
Meanwhile, the prosecution is seeking four years and two months’ jail for Wong’s co-conspirator Omar Chia Sin Lan, 64. Chia also admitted in March to three counts of giving bribes in order to advance the business interests of his two companies, which carried out works for town councils.
Two other similar charges will be considered in sentencing.
Chia had also pleaded guilty on behalf of his two companies - 19-ANC Enterprise and 19-NS2 Enterprise - for giving bribes to Wong. The prosecution sought the maximum sentence of a $100,000 fine for each of the two companies.
The companies were awarded tenders and contracts by AMKTC worth millions of dollars during the time that Wong accepted the bribes.
Meanwhile, Wong’s lawyer Melanie Ho asked for a jail term of between 11 and 14 months, along with a financial penalty of $1,505.63.
Chia’s lawyer Michael Loh asked for six months’ jail. He also sought a financial penalty of $10,000 for each of his client’s two firms.
The duo originally faced 55 counts of graft each but had their charges amalgamated.
They had originally claimed trial to their charges but Wong threw in the towel on 5 March at the start of the third tranche of his trial and Chia followed suit shortly after.
District Judge John Ng is expected to deliver his sentence on 23 August.
For each of their graft charges, Wong and Chia face a maximum punishment of a fine of up to $100,000 along with up to seven years’ jail.
Other Singapore stories:
Male nurse jailed for taking photos of female colleagues changing in hospital toilet
Woman, 21, jailed for charging at policeman, putting him in chokehold at Orchard Towers
Fugitive of 13 years caught at hospital after man sees him using his lost IC
Be more civic-minded by sharing tables, practising good hygiene: Singapore Kindness Movement
19% of Singaporeans interact regularly with foreigners in social settings: survey
