SINGAPORE — As the President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA), Choo Wee Khiang was entrusted with control over its funds, and was expected to act in the association’s best interests.

But sometime in 2005, the former Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC allegedly conspired with an STTA manager to misappropriate funds by making out payments totalling S$8,400 to an assistant coach, Mr Luo Jie, who was unhappy that he was not paid for moonlighting at a secondary school.

Yesterday, the prosecution proceeded with one charge of criminal breach of trust (CBT) against 58-year-old Choo, and stood down three graft charges he is facing for the time being.

Former STTA High Performance Manager Koh Li Ping, 43, faces one count of abetting Choo to commit the offence, in the same trial.

The prosecution’s case is that Choo, who was charged with the offence in December 2011, broke the law by approving the payment of the STTA’s money to Mr Luo, “when there was no STTA object in pursuance of which such payment was required”.

Koh is alleged to have obtained approval from Choo and given instructions to another STTA manager to process the payments.

“Even if (Choo and Koh) felt sympathetic to Luo Jie, they had no legal justification using STTA funds to compensate him for moonlighting services provided to a third party,” Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Alan Loh said in the prosecution’s opening statement.

Mr Luo had moonlighted at Fuhua Secondary School between 2001 and 2003 without the STTA’s knowledge. When the school discovered that Mr Luo’s work permit specified that he was employed by the STTA, it decided that it could not pay him.

Mr Luo, who received his permanent residency in July 2003, then expressed his unhappiness to Choo, DPP Loh said.

Prosecution witness Wong Hui Leng, who was the General Manager of the STTA, yesterday told the court that Choo, Koh and herself met with the then-Principal of Fuhua Secondary School Ong Kian Choon sometime in 2003 or 2004 to attempt to recover Mr Luo’s pay. Mr Choo had an “intimidating tone” at the meeting and indicated to Mr Ong that his retirement would be affected if the matter was not resolved.

When Mr Ong indicated that the school did not have sufficient funds in its budget, Ms Wong said Choo came up with a solution: The school would enter into a one-year contract with the STTA for table tennis consultancy and coaching services.

“I felt Mr Choo’s intention is to get back money for Luo Jie and this (proposal) did not benefit STTA at all,” Ms Wong said, adding that she felt the STTA was “under no obligation” to recover money on Mr Luo’s behalf. The contract was subsequently signed on June 7, 2004.

Under cross-examination by Choo’s lawyer K Muralidharan Pillai, Ms Wong acknowledged that although Choo had approved the payout, it was the Vice-President and Honorary Treasurer of the STTA who signed the two cheques.

The defence is claiming is that under the STTA constitution in 2005 — before subsequent amendments — Choo’s role as STTA President does not allow him to approve payments; contrary to the charge he is facing, which states that he committed the breach of trust in his capacity as an agent of the STTA by way of his business.

If found guilty of criminal breach of trust, Choo — who was STTA President from 1991 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2008 — can be jailed for life, or for a term not exceeding 20 years and fined. Koh faces the same penalties, if found guilty of abetting Choo.

Twelve other witnesses may be called by the prosecution during the trial, including current STTA President Lee Bee Wah.

The trial continues.