Public servants may face tighter rules on casino visits

SINGAPORE — Public servants could face tighter rules on casino visits, following the discovery last September that a senior anti-graft officer had allegedly gambled away hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ money at a casino here.

After the case came to light, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has tightened its procedures, such as by introducing compulsory credit bureau checks for staff. It is also taking a leaf out of the books of the police and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), which require officers involved in general law enforcement work to declare their casino visits within seven days of each visit.

The CPIB is implementing “similar appropriate measures with regard to casino visits for its officers”, the Public Service Division (PSD) said yesterday in response to media queries.

The PSD also said it was considering if it should introduce more regulations on casino visits for public servants, especially those who work in areas where conflict of interest may arise, or where there is a “high risk” of them being exploited if they fall into financial embarrassment. Such officers could be those involved in procurement or doing enforcement work. Financial embarrassment could mean becoming an undischarged bankrupt, having unsecured liabilities exceeding three months’ salary or having an outstanding debt from a court judgment.

No blanket ban exists on public servants going to the casinos at Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands (MBS), but all have to immediately declare any financial embarrassment and declare annually if they are in debt.

Restrictions on casino visits apply to some groups to prevent conflict of interest, however, the PSD said. Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) officers are banned from visiting the casinos here as well as those belonging to their parent companies — Genting Group and Las Vegas Sands — overseas, except when they are carrying out official duties. The ban has been in place since 2008 when the CRA was set up, ahead of the opening of the integrated resorts in 2010.

In April 2009, the ban was introduced for officers from the Central and Clementi police divisions, where the two casinos are located, and those from the Casino Crime Investigation Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department.

The Singapore Police Force also stepped up measures in recent years. From April 2011, all police officers had to undergo compulsory credit bureau checks to “identify and assist” those who have borrowed excessively from banks and major financial institutions. Since last June, all police officers have had to declare casino visits within seven days. The CNB followed suit in January this year.

On Wednesday, CPIB Assistant Director Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong was charged with misappropriating S$1.76 million, including S$241,000 which he gambled away at the MBS casino. Commercial Affairs Department investigations had revealed that he might not have disclosed the full nature and extent of his liabilities. Yeo, who has been interdicted, had access to public funds as his responsibilities included managing the operating budget of the Field Research and Technical Support Branch.

Mountbatten Member of Parliament (MP) Lim Biow Chuan felt senior civil servants could be restricted further from casino visits, given their “greater responsibility and how some have an impact on how the country is run”.

“If they are involved in positions where they manage (public) funds, the temptation may be there when there is loss of funds (through gambling),” he said. He added that there should be a balance between individual rights and the PSD’s role in upholding the integrity of the Public Service.

Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah, however, felt all public servants should be made to declare casino visits and those found to visit them more frequently could be monitored more closely. Singaporeans have “high expectations” of public servants, and corruption cases — whether they involve junior or senior officers — affect the Public Service’s image, she said.

Currently, public servants who are financially embarrassed may face disciplinary proceedings, with circumstances of each case taken into account, said the PSD. Staff may also be offered financial counselling to help resolve their financial issues.