Former WRS Assistant Director & Others Charged For Alleged Corruption & Money Laundering Offences

On 11 March 2022, Goh Meng Kwee (吴铭桂, 49-year-old male Singaporean) (“Goh”), a former Assistant Director of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (“WRS”), was charged in Court for allegedly committing the offence of corruptly obtaining gratification amounting to more than S$150,000 from individuals between 2014 and 2018. The gratification was intended as inducement for Goh to advance various companies’ business interests with WRS. For his actions, Goh faces 10 charges for offences punishable under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

2. Goh allegedly used about S$44,000 of the abovementioned gratification to pay for a Mercedes-Benz B200 vehicle sometime in 2017. For his actions, Goh faces two charges for offences under Section 47(1)(c) and punishable under Section 47(6)(a) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (“CDSA”).

3. Goh also faces an additional charge under Section 5(a)(i) of the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly committing the offence of corruptly receiving gratification of S$50,000 from two individuals sometime in May 2018, as an inducement for advancing their company’s business interests with a WRS contractor.

4. In connection with Goh’s alleged offences, six other individuals were charged in Court on the same date:

a) Ng Yeow Seng (黄耀成, 59-year old male Singaporean), Director of Ascension Engineering Services Pte Ltd (“AES”) who, allegedly, in 2014:

Corruptly gave gratification of S$20,000 to Goh, as an inducement for advancing AES’s business interests with WRS. For his actions, Ng Yeow Seng faces one charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

b) Neo Chye Koon (梁财坤, 52-year old male Singaporean) and Wong Chee Thiam (黄治添, 52-year old male Singaporean), Directors of Magnum Precision Industries Pte Ltd (“MPI”) who, allegedly, on two occasions between 2016 and 2018:

Conspired to corruptly give gratification totaling S$50,000 to Goh, as inducement for advancing MPI’s business interests with WRS. For their actions, they each face two charges for offences punishable under Section 6(b) read with Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

c) Ng Thiam Huat (黄添发, 56-year old male Singaporean), Director of United Channel Construction & Facility Services Pte Ltd (“UCCFS”) who, allegedly, on two occasions in 2017:

Corruptly gave gratification totaling S$72,000 to Goh, as inducement for advancing UCCFS’s business interests with WRS. For his actions, Ng Thiam Huat faces two charges for offences punishable under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

d) Tay Chun Hsiong (郑俊雄, 46-year old male Singaporean), Business Development Manager of Lantro (S) Pte Ltd (“Lantro”); and Fang Yih Uei (方逸威, 34-year old male Malaysian), Director of RH Creation Pte Ltd who, allegedly, in 2018:

Conspired to corruptly give gratification totaling S$50,000 to Goh, as an inducement for advancing Lantro’s business interests with a WRS contractor, Pico Art International Pte Ltd. For their actions, they each face one charge for an offence punishable under Section 5(b)(i) read with Section 29(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

5. Separately, Tay Chun Hsiong is also alleged to have corruptly obtained gratification of S$3,000 from Ng Thiam Huat, as a reward for furthering UCCFS’s business interests with Lantro. For their actions, Ng Thiam Huat and Tay Chun Hsiong each face an additional charge for an offence punishable under Section 6(b) and 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act respectively.

6. 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. Any person who is convicted of a money laundering offence under the CDSA can be sentenced to imprisonment of up to ten years and shall also be liable for a fine up to S$500,000 or to both.

7. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) looks into all corruption-related complaints and reports, including anonymous ones, and can be reached via the following channels:

a) Lodge an e-Complaint;
; b) Email us at report@cpib.gov.sg;
c) Call the Duty Officer at 1800-376-0000; or
d) Write to us at the CPIB Headquarters @ 2 Lengkok Bahru, S159047.

8. Where possible, the report should include the following information:

a) Where, when and how the alleged corrupt act happened?
b) Who was involved and what were their roles?
c) What was the bribe given and the favour shown?

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau