A forklift operator at a container facility in Singapore is counting the true cost of his SGD 1 (74 US cents) bribery scheme – two months in jail.
Chen Ziliang, who was also ordered to pay a $4,870.50 ($3,600) fine, was allegedly caught obtaining bribes from truck drivers at the Cogent Container Depot.
He was responsible for operating forklifts for the loading or unloading of containers for truck drivers at the facility in Tuas.
Investigations by Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) revealed that in October 2017, a truck driver had confronted Chen after having to wait for a considerably long time in the queue.
Chen is then said to have informed the driver that it was the “norm for truck drivers to pay one dollar, or risk having to wait longer in the queue or be given containers that were in a bad condition”.
He was eventually arrested in March 2018 after which subsequent investigations revealed that he had in the course of his employment with Cogent, obtained bribes of $7 to $10 daily from truck drivers so as not to delay the collection or return of containers.
Chen is said to have embarked on this corrupt practice from 1 February 2016 up to 12 March 2018 and it was estimated he had obtained around $4,872.50 in bribes.
“Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption. It is a serious offence to obtain bribes, or attempt to obtain bribes from another individual or entity,” the CPIB said.
“Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both.
“There is no limit on the bribe amount that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau can and will investigate, even if the amount is as small as one dollar. A bribe of one dollar is still an offence.”
