photo: streetdirectory.com

A Forklift Truck Operator employed by Cogent Container Depot Pte Ltd (“Cogent”) was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a penalty of $10,863 for the practice of obtaining bribes from truck drivers at Cogent on Friday (15 February)

In a press release, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) stated that Zhao Yucun was responsible for operating forklifts for the loading and unloading of containers to and from trucks.

Investigations revealed that the 44-year-old had, in the course of his employment with Cogent, obtained bribes of $7 to $10 daily from truck drivers in exchange for not delaying the loading and unloading of containers to and from their trucks.

The bureau said that when Zhao was arrested by the CPIB in March 2018, coins amounting to $2.50 were found on the mudguard of Zhao’s forklift.

According to the bureau, Zhao had embarked on this corrupt practice from 2 September 2013 up to 12 March 2018 and it was estimated he had obtained approximately $10,865.50 in bribes.

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, an offence 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.

Earlier this year, a forklift operator employed by the same company was also sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a penalty of $4,870.50, for embarking on a course of conduct to obtain bribes from truck drivers at Cogent.

According to the bureau, Chen was responsible for operating forklifts for the loading or unloading of containers for truck drivers.

Investigations by the 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 then 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.

In March 2018, when Chen was arrested by the CPIB, coins amounting to $2 were found on the mudguard of the forklift operated by Chen, the bureau said.

Subsequent investigations revealed that Chen had in the course of his employment with Cogent, had obtained bribes of $7 to $10 daily from truck drivers so as not to delay the collection or return of containers from or onto the vehicles of these truck drivers.

Chen embarked on this corrupt practice from 1 February 2016 up to 12 March 2018 and it was estimated he had obtained approximately $4,872.50 in bribes.

As a result, he was charged with the practice of corruptly obtaining gratifications from truck drivers at Cogent, as an inducement to not delay the collection or return of containers onto the vehicles of these truck drivers, an offence 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.

The bureau stressed that 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. Any person who is convicted of a corruption offence can be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to 5 years or to both.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

【冠状病毒19】已列安全客工宿舍 却出现新病例

原本已被列为无冠病19的安全客工宿舍,却传出发现新病例!跨部门防疫工作小组呼吁跟单位积极监督宿舍管理,避免引来新一波的疫情感染。 由建设局、经济发展局、人力部和保健促进局昨日(8月11日)联合发出的文告中指出,有原属安全区的客工宿舍出现新疫情,但是并没有更多详细资料。 人力部昨晚的文告称,除了有客工隔离的17栋客工专用大楼,所有宿舍昨日起已正式摆脱冠病,被列为安全宿舍。这意味着,除了在政府隔离设施内进行隔离的2万2500名客工,所有居住在宿舍的可供已康复,或在冠毒检测中呈阴性反应。 文告指出,随着隔离大楼的客工都完成隔离期,Cassia@Penjuru宿舍也成为了安全宿舍。 此外,客工复工在即,在四单位的联合文告中指出,客工宿舍的人流也会增加,因此促请宿舍当局、承包商及工地等单位提高警惕,做足安全防疫措施。 文告中也提到了当局所采用及推出的四个加强防疫措施,即所有客工必须采用人力部指定的手机申报健康状况应用程序、人力部密切跟进客工宿舍医疗站看诊人数、监测具高风险的客工宿舍排水、在高风险区域工作的客工必须定期接受拭子检测,即每两周或14天一次。而曾受到感染并已康复的客工,无需接受180天的常规测试。 当局表示,以作为防疫措施之一,若发现有客工受到感染的症状出现,将会迅速隔离所有的高风险客工,并展开积极的检测行动。 当局要求雇主和总承包商进行商议,必须安排让客工们定期到区域检测中心或宿舍内的检测站,进行拭子检测。对此,保健促进局也启动了拭子检测注册系统(SRS),让雇主们进行预约。

Heng Swee Keat to be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Heng Swee Keat will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as…

SMRT fined S$400,000 for safety lapses in Pasir Ris accident

Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) Trains was fined S$400,000 on Tuesday (28…