Construction firm project manager jailed for bribing PUB employee with S$45,000

SINGAPORE — To speed up his construction companies’ jobs at worksites, Ganisan Suppiah bribed an assistant engineer from national water agency PUB with S$45,169 within the span of a year.

Ganisan, 52, was jailed for seven months and two weeks on Monday (Feb 14) after pleading guilty to one count each of corruptly giving gratification and falsification of accounts.

Another charge of falsifying accounts was taken into consideration for sentencing.

The court heard that Ganisan worked at construction firms Krishna Singapore Construction and Pipe Works, overseeing projects including the purchase of materials.

Pipe Works had been subcontracted to carry out certain works at PUB worksites.

The PUB engineer in charge of supervising the works, Jamaludin Mohamed, asked Ganisan for “fees” in exchange for getting documents in order quickly, so that Pipe Works could start work early. The engineer would also give Pipe Works’ workers priority to lay the pipes at the sites.

Jamaludin then set up a new company, Daeyul Services, to receive these illicit fees through false invoices billed to the two construction firms for fictitious cleaning services at the worksites.

Ganisan handed Jamaludin the payments in cash when they met at coffee shops.

Jamaludin was jailed for nine months and 10 weeks, as well as fined S$45,169, in November last year. Aside from taking bribes, the 58-year-old asked another executive of an engineering firm for S$500,000 in exchange for helping the firm win a tender to replace some water mains.

In sentencing Ganisan, District Judge Janet Wang said that she took into consideration the amount of gratification involved and the benefits Ganisan had received in exchange for bribing Jamaludin.

Even though Jamaludin was the "prime mover who orchestrated the arrangement", Ganisan’s role “ought not to be downplayed”, the judge added.

Those convicted of receiving or giving bribes can be jailed for up to five years or fined up to S$100,000, or both.

Those convicted of falsifying accounts can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined, or both.