Ex-Traffic Police clerk jailed, fined S$2,500 for leaking accident victims’ details

SINGAPORE — A former clerk for the Traffic Police was sentenced to 18 weeks in jail and fined S$2,500 on Wednesday (July 27) after being found guilty of multiple counts of corruption and breaches of the Official Secrets Act.

The offences involved leaking the contact information of traffic accidents victims to an employee of a law firm in return for money.

Khatijah A Manap, 61, was sentenced after pleading guilty to five offences under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) for leaking personal information and three offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) for receiving bribes. Another 23 charges (18 under the OSA and five under the PCA) were taken into consideration during sentencing.

In her work as a clerk, Khatijah had access to accident investigation files, which included the personal details of victims.

In 2010, she started passing on the contact details of accident victims to legal executive Gulzar Raja Singh Sandhu in return for payment. She had met Raja after her involvement in a 2008 traffic accident. Raja or Khatijah would then contact the accident victims and ask them if they wanted to file a compensation claim, and engage Raja’s daughter — a lawyer at Clifford Law LLP — to handle the case.

Khatijah was paid S$200 for each victim who employed the law firm in a compensation claim. Investigations found that she had pocketed a total of at least $2,500 from Raja between August 2010 and February 2013.

The arrangement came to light in 2013 when Mr Haresh Vishindas Chandiramani, who had been contacted by Khatijah following two separate accidents, reported her activities to the police.

Commenting on the sentencing, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Board said Singapore takes a zero tolerance approach to corruption and will not hesitate to take action against any party involved in corrupt practices.

Reports last month said investigations against Raja are ongoing.