Former Wildlife Reserves Singapore employee charged with taking more than S$2.4m in bribes; 11 others also charged

• Barry Chong Peng Wee allegedly took more than S$2.4 million in bribes while working with Wildlife Reserves Singapore
• His colleague Chin Fong Yi is said to have taken more than S$50,000 in bribes for not reporting what was happening
• She accepted a branded wallet as reward from a company director for not being strict in supervising works his firm was doing for WRS
• Chong, Chin and 10 other people from companies that had business dealings with WRS were charged on Sept 10

SINGAPORE – A former employee of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) was charged on Friday (Sept 10) with receiving more than S$2.4 million in bribes from several people to advance their business interests with his employer. 

WRS oversees the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Safari and Jurong Bird Park.

Barry Chong Peng Wee, also known as Danial Chong, is facing 107 corruption charges. The offences were allegedly committed between 2005 and 2016, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a news release.

Chong is said to have used part of the bribes he received to pay for a S$15,900 Rolex watch and faces one more charge for this.

In connection with him, 11 other people were involved in the alleged deals, which saw a few of the parties creating fake invoices.  

Among the 11 is another former WRS employee, Chin Fong Yi, who allegedly received a Chanel wallet that cost S$1,250.

A company director gave it to her as a reward for being lenient in supervising works for a project at WRS done by his construction company.

Chin also allegedly received more than S$50,000 to remain silent over the bribes given to Chong.

The following are what the various parties allegedly did.  

Chin Yong Yi, 44, Singaporean

The former WRS employee allegedly received bribes totalling more than S$50,000 between 2010 and 2015 from Toh Say Yong, director of Shin Yong Construction, and Too Say Kiong, foreman of the same construction firm.

She was given the money to not report that the firm was giving bribes to her colleague Chong.

CPIB said that Chin received the branded wallet from Toh in 2014.

She faces 63 corruption charges for the above offences.

Between 2012 and 2015, she allegedly used more than S$33,000 of the bribe money she received to pay for branded bags, shoes and jewellery on various occasions. For these offences, she faces 16 charges.

Toh Say Yong, 66, Singaporean

Between 2005 and 2016, he allegedly conspired with Too and Toh Yong Soon, project manager of Shin Yong Construction, on various occasions to bribe Chong with more than S$611,000.

This was to facilitate the business interests of their firm with WRS.

He faces 27 charges in relation to bribing Chong and another 62 for bribing Chin.

Too Say Kiong, 55, Singaporean

Too allegedly conspired with Toh Say Yong, Toh Yong Soon and three others on various occasions to bribe Chong between 2005 and 2015.

He faces 52 charges.

Toh Yong Soon, 36, Singaporean

He allegedly conspired with Toh Say Yong and six others in 2015 and 2016 to bribe Chong with more than S$1.8 million.

For his actions, 58 corruption charges were brought against him. Another charge is in relation to the wallet he gave Chin.

Lim Thiam Poh, 63, Singaporean

The owner of Thiam Lee Tradings Construction at the time of the offences, Lim was reportedly involved with Too in giving about S$127,000 in bribes to Chong. This was in 2014 and 2015.

He has 15 corruption charges brought against him.

Chong Chee Wai, 45, Malaysian

In 2014 and 2015, the owner of Katana Engineering firm at the time was allegedly involved with Too to bribe Barry Chong with more than S$235,000.

He faces 20 corruption charges.

Koh Kian Hee, 39, Singaporean

He allegedly conspired with Toh Yong Soon, Too and two others on various occasions to bribe Barry Chong with more than S$1 million. He is being prosecuted on 31 corruption charges.

At the time of the offences, Koh was director of Geoscapes, a construction and landscaping company.

In 2016, he allegedly bribed three people on different occasions for them to create fake invoices. For this, he faces 22 charges.

Tan Chuan Hong, 45, Singaporean

The director of Hong Power Engineering firm at the time, he allegedly conspired with Toh Yong Soon in 2016 to bribe Barry Chong with more than S$324,000.

He faces eight corruption charges.

Wong Eng Kuen, 42, Singaporean

The director of Ultron Construction firm at the time, he purportedly conspired with Toh Yong Soon to offer more than S$192,000 in bribes.

He faces six corruption charges.

To Chai Kiat, 47, Malaysian

The director of KK Iron Engineering company at the time, he allegedly conspired with Toh Yong Soon, Koh and another man to bribe Barry Chong with more than S$126,000 in 2015 and 2016.

He faces six corruption charges.

Chong Yun Chia, 37, Malaysian

At the time the project manager of KK Iron Engineering and director of Onesta, which provided renovation services, he allegedly conspired in 2016 with Toh Yong Soon, Koh and To to bribe Barry Chong with more than S$88,000.

He faces four corruption charges for the above.

There were another 20 charges brought against him for receiving more than S$92,000 in bribes himself from Koh, in exchange for creating fake invoices under Onesta.

PENALTIES

Anyone found guilty of a corruption offence can be fined up to S$100,000 or jailed up to five years, or both.

In the case of the WRS former employees using money they got as bribes for their own benefit or buys, they can be fined up to S$500,000 or jailed up to 10 years, or both, if convicted under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.

In January last year, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) reported that Shin Yong Construction, Geoscapes and Hong Power Engineering were found to have rigged their bids for the provision of building, construction and maintenance services to WRS.

The bids were submitted to WRS in response to its calls for quotations and tenders.

CCCS said then that in April 2016, it acted upon a complaint from WRS and began its investigation into allegations of bid-rigging of civil and electrical works for the attractions WRS manages.

CPIB said in its latest release that companies are strongly advised to put in place robust procedures in areas such as procurement and internal audit to prevent falling victim to corrupt acts by their employees.