Brompton bikes: Accused opts not to put up defence

SINGAPORE — Having fought against accusations of wrongdoing so far, the National Parks Board (NParks) officer in the dock in the high-profile Brompton bikes case yesterday surprisingly opted not to put up a defence, clearing the way for the court to deliver its verdict next month.

Less than two weeks ago, Bernard Lim Yong Soon, 42, had indicated he would take the stand, after the court dismissed his argument that he had no case to answer because the prosecution had not proven a prima facie case.

Yesterday, however, lawyers for the NParks Assistant Director, accused of lying to auditors about his relationship with a bicycle supplier who sold 26 Brompton bikes to the statutory board for S$57,200, said their client had changed his mind.

The defence is also not calling any witnesses and has wrapped up its case, lawyer Lawrence Ang added.

District Judge Marvin Bay told Lim that where an accused elects not to give evidence, the court may draw any inference from it, including those that may be adverse to him.

After Lim confirmed he was sticking to his decision, the judge instructed both parties to exchange written submissions on May 15 and tender their replies to the court a week later.

Lim, who was overseeing the NParks’ controversial purchase of the Brompton bikes, is facing two charges.

He is alleged to have hidden his friendship with supplier Lawrence Lim Chun How from auditors from the Ministry of National Development looking into the purchase. A second charge alleges that he instigated Mr Lim, Director of BikeHop Singapore, which won the tender to provide the foldable bikes, to perpetuate the lie to the same auditors.

During the trial, the supplier testified that he had befriended Lim in 2011 at a cycling event. He also told the court that when online chatter questioning the tender grew after NParks’ purchase came to light, Lim asked him to keep mum about their friendship and unfriend him on Facebook.

However, he agreed, under cross-examination, that Lim did not insist that he lie about their friendship nor was there an agreement between them to do so.

The judge is expected to hand down his verdict on May 29. If convicted, Lim, who is currently suspended from his job, can be jailed for up to a year and/or fined up to S$5,000, for each of the charges.