Three former and current SMRT Trains employees charged with cheating

SINGAPORE — Four men, including two former and one current employee of SMRT Trains, were charged in court on Friday (Dec 29) for duping the rail operator into awarding contracts worth nearly S$10 million. 

The SMRT Trains employees allegedly concealed their interest in two firms that won the contracts over five years, from 2007 to 2012.

SMRT Trains line manager Zulkifli Marwi, 52, allegedly conspired with two former colleagues, Jamalludin Jumari and Zakaria Mohamed Shariff, and the managing director of construction company Enovation Technologies Akbar Ali Tambishahib, to deceive the rail operator.

As a result, SMRT Trains awarded contracts to Enovation Technologies worth around S$5.9 million.

Jamalludin, 61, is a former manager at SMRT Trains, while Zakaria, 59,  is a former assistant engineer with the rail operator. The four men each face 24 cheating charges for their role in the alleged conspiracy.

Separately, Jamalludin, Zakaria and Akbar, 60, also face four counts each of cheating SMRT Trains into awarding contracts amounting to around S$3.9 million to Enovation Industries — which Akbar is also the managing director of — and Enovation Technologies.

A media release from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) on Friday said that Jamalludin fled Singapore in 2013.

He was recently arrested in Malaysia with the assistance of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

If convicted of cheating, they could be sentenced to up to seven years’ jail and fined for each count.

Responding to queries from TODAY, Ms Margaret Teo, Head Corporate Marketing and Communications, SMRT, said in a statement: “SMRT referred this case to CPIB in 2012 for their investigation. This followed immediately after internal investigations by the company to find out the nature and extent of suspected wrongdoing. We note the charges filed by CPIB today and await the outcome of the proceedings.”