AGC reviewing investigation findings into 2017 case of alleged misuse of funds involving FAS, local football clubs

SINGAPORE — The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is reviewing investigation findings by the Commercial Affairs Department into the alleged misuse of funds that had resulted in the police raids on local football clubs nearly four years ago.

In a written reply to Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Sylvia Lim on Monday (April 5), Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said that beyond that, “it is not appropriate to comment further at this point”.

Ms Lim had asked Mr Shanmugam on the status and outcome of the police investigations into a report by SportSG — the local sports governing body — in April 2017 concerning the alleged misuse of funds that had resulted in police raids at the offices of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and three local football clubs then.

TODAY had reported then that SportSG had lodged a police report against Tiong Bahru Football Club for suspected misuse of club funds, as well as a purported attempt by a senior club official to obstruct the completion of audits of some former S.League clubs. 

SportSG said then that it had received a tip-off alleging that a senior Tiong Bahru FC official had, with false reasons, instigated another club to delay or obstruct the completion of audits until after the FAS elections that year were over.

SportSG also said then that it had received information which raised “serious questions” about a S$500,000 donation by Tiong Bahru FC to the Asean Football Federation.

Former FAS president and former Member of Parliament Zainudin Nordin, FAS general secretary Winston Lee, Hougang United and Tiong Bahru FC chairman Bill Ng and his wife Bonnie Wong were arrested then. 

Earlier in February, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh had asked the Government to give an update on the corruption probes involving FAS as well as Keppel Offshore and Marine at the start of the Committee of Supply debates in Parliament. 

“I understand that investigations can take some time to complete. But in view of the profile of the latter two cases (Keppel O&M and FAS) in particular, which involved people of some status, there is a real public interest as to why these matters have not closed yet,” Mr Singh said.

In response to Mr Singh’s questions, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah gave an update on the Keppel probe.

She apologised for not being able to respond on the FAS case, as Mr Singh had, in providing a gist of his intended question on corruption before the sitting, indicated only the Keppel case. 

"I am sorry I do not have the information on FAS. But perhaps, Mr Singh might like to file a parliamentary question on that."