A second forklift truck driver at the Cogent Container Depot in Singapore is facing four months in jail for alleged bribery.
Zhao Yucun, 44, was also ordered to pay a penalty of SGD 10,863 ($8,000) for the practice of obtaining bribes from truck drivers at Cogent.
He was responsible for operating forklifts for the loading and unloading of containers to and from trucks.
Corruption probe
Investigations by Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) revealed that he had, in the course of his employment with Cogent, obtained bribes of up to SGD 10 a day from truck drivers in exchange for not delaying the loading and unloading of containers to and from their trucks.
When Zhao was arrested by the CPIB in March 2018, coins amounting to $2.50 were found on the mudguard of his forklift.
Zhao is said to have embarked on this corrupt practice from 2 September 2013 up to 12 March 2018 and it was estimated he had obtained about $10,865.50 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
CPIB
As a result, Zhao was charged with the practice of corruptly obtaining gratifications from truck drivers at Cogent, as an inducement to not delay the loading and unloading of containers from trucks.
The offence is punishable under section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 241, which is an amalgamated charge pursuant to section 124(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 68.
Zero tolerance
Last month, Chen Ziliang, a forklift operator at the same facility was sentenced to two months in jail and ordered to pay a $4,870.50 fine after being caught obtaining similar bribes from truck drivers at the Cogent Container Depot.
“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.”
