SINGAPORE - The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor involved in the sex-for-grades corruption case charged that the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau (CPIB) has a “confession-centric culture”, a District Court heard this morning.

Tey Tsun Hang, 41, claimed that CPIB Chief Special Investigator Bay Chun How has a “strong sense of confirmation bias” and that the NUS law don was deemed “guilty” the moment he was picked by CPIB officers on April 2, last year. Tey also claimed that he wanted to write his own statements during his interrogations at the bureau, but his offer was refused by officers.

Over the past two days, the trial heard that Tey was coerced into making confessions to the CPIB and that they were made under duress. Among the accusations, Tey said CPIB officers humiliated him, made callous remarks and hurled vulgarities at him.

However, lead prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy, who took the court through multiple examples of threats and oppression raised by Tey, pointed out that the accused never questioned the CPIB officers when they testified in court in January this year.

Tey admitted he failed to do so, but he explained that he had been on medication and had problems recollecting details.

Mr Jumabhoy then asked Tey if he thought his demonstrations over the last few days were dramatic. Tey said he was not sure how they are perceived but that he was just trying his best to recollect and tell his side of the story.

This led the prosecution to charge that Tey clearly has a flair for drama. But Tey rebutted, saying he is a law professor and no dramatist.

Tey has been charged with six counts of obtaining gratification from his former student Darinne Ko, in exchange for better grades. The trial continues later today.