SINGAPORE — A former director at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) was charged today (Sept 23) for corruptly obtaining gratification worth S$317,000 from contractors in return for furthering their business interests with the integrated resort.

Mr Soh Yew Meng, 36, faces up to five years’ jail and a S$100,000 fine for each of the four counts of corruptly obtaining gratification, and three counts of attempting to do so.

Ms Tan Siow Hui, a 32-year-old freelance quantity surveyor who is accused of being Mr Soh’s accomplice, faces six charges of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy with him.

Court documents showed that on four occasions between July 2013 and January 2014, Mr Soh, who is married with two children, allegedly received sums ranging from S$2,000 to S$150,000 from directors of a furniture company, a lighting studio and a construction firm as rewards for “furthering (their) business interest” with Resorts World Sentosa.

Mr Soh allegedly received S$150,000 on two occasions — in July 2013 and between Dec 23, 2013 and Jan 15 last year — from Shanghai Chong Kee Furniture and Construction managing director Tan Ken Huat. These were allegedly obtained through Ms Tan Siow Hui and Mr Teo Wee Liap, director of a company called Superiortec.

He supposedly received S$2,000 from freelance lighting designer Teo Sin Tiong of Maple Lighting Studio on July 28, 2013. And in November 2013, he allegedly received a S$15,000 bribe from Beyond Builders director Tan Choon Hung through co-accused Tan.

Money changed hands at various locations, including a Seah Im Road car park, a car park in Bukit Batok, and a canteen on Eunos Avenue 6. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has recovered about S$170,000.

Some time in 2013, Mr Soh also allegedly attempted to obtain gratification from Novelty Project Services for projects titled Feng Shui Inn as well as Asian Cafe, which refer to restaurants in the integrated resort.

Ms Tan, a single mother with three children, is charged with conspiring with Mr Soh in six of his alleged offences. Both are represented by lawyer Dora Boon and have indicated that they intend to claim trial. Their cases are due for a pre-trial conference on Oct 23.

Ms Tan’s S$300,000 bail has been extended while Mr Soh was offered fresh bail of S$150,000.

The CPIB takes a serious view of all corrupt practices and will not hesitate to act against any party involved in such acts, it said.

“Procurement systems and processes are put in place to ensure fair competition from all bidding vendors. But when individuals circumvent these processes and seek benefit for themselves, a level playing field becomes impossible to achieve,” it said.