The director of Hai Hup Huat Marine, a company that provides stevedoring and launch boat services in and around the Port of Singapore, has been jailed for 42 weeks on corruption charges.
Tan Chee Keong, described as “overall-in-charge” of the company, was sentenced on Thursday after being found guilty of giving money to boarding officers and shipping agents under the guise of "commissions", "referral fees" or "loans".
“These were in fact corrupt gratifications to induce the boarding officers and shipping agents to continue to engage Hai Hup Huat’s services in future,” Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said following Tan’s sentencing.
Investigations revealed that Tan had given or approved the giving of cash amounting to SGD 211,880 ($156,271) to 40 individuals over at least 390 instances between 2008 and 2015.
“Tan would either make the corrupt payments personally or rely on his accounting and/or administrative staff to make them,” the CPIB said.
Tan’s actions were said to have constituted offences punishable under Singapore's Prevention of Corruption Act.
“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption," the CPIB said. "Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to SGD 100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both.”
Hai Hup Huat operates a fleet of crew and supply boats that transports passengers and cargo from shore to vessels anchored off Singapore.
When contacted by TradeWinds, a company employee said the verdict against Tan had not affected its day-to-day operations.
