A former policeman and two other officers from the Force were
charged with corruption in court today.
35-year old Ong Thiam Hock used to be a Senior Staff Sergeant
attached to the Compliant Management Unit.
It oversees the management of licensees for public
entertainment, liquor and massage establishments.
Ong, who faces 12 charges in all, was arrested yesterday.
His lawyer, Thong Chee Kun, says Ong recently left the police
force.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau or CPIB says, it
received information that the operator of an illegal massage
parlour had allegedly paid bribes to police officers in exchange
for tip-offs on impending raids.
Zhong Xianqin, who's a China-national from Tian Zi massage
parlour at Block 445 Clementi Avenue 3 is also believed to have
offered free sexual services to them.
Ong had allegedly received such services from her between late
May and early July last year.
He's also believed to have received a total of $7,000 cash from
her in exchange for the tip-offs, at around the same time.
Ong will reappear in court for a pre-trial conference on the
19th of March.
The other two officers charged today have been interdicted.
One of them, 49-year old Aziz Osman faces 11 corruption charges
in all.
Aziz is a Station Inspector attached to the Traffic Police
Department.
Among others, the leader of a patrol team had allegedly
instructed five of his subordinates to provide unauthorised mobile
escort for the wedding ceremony of one John Hooi Tuck Sung in May
2004.
It's believed Aziz told the men to make false entries in their
patrol log sheets after performing the escort.
Forty-eight year old Hashim Kamari, who's a Senior Station
Inspector, was also charged with corruption today.
He's a Project Management Officer attached to the Automotive
Engineering and Management Division of the Police Logistics
Department.
Hashim is believed to have corruptly accepted a discount of
about $80 from one Lim Sun Kwang when he purchased a tyre made by
its manufacturer, Metzeler.
In exchange for the discount, Hashim had allegedly recommended
that his department purchase Metzeler tyres from a local supplier
of motorcycle accessories, JR Private Limited.
If Hashim is convicted of this offence, he could be fined up to
$100,000, jailed a maximum of five years or both.
Hashim and Aziz will reappear in court for their pre-trial
conferences on the 12th of March.
--938Live