Singapore police officer Poo Tze Chiang, previously entangled in corruption charges in 2022, faces new allegations of accepting bribes and engaging in deceitful conduct, further tarnishing the reputation of the law enforcement community.
Expanded Corruption Charges
On Friday, January 26, Poo was slapped with four more charges related to corruption, one of which consolidates multiple incidents, and an additional charge of cheating, as announced by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). These charges come on top of the seven counts of corruption and three counts of obstruction of justice he was already facing.
Alleged Misconduct and Deception
Between July and October 2019, Poo is accused of receiving or facilitating the receipt of a total of S$18,000 (US$13,443) in bribes from Chinese national Chen Guangyun, who was under investigation for immigration violations. These bribes were purportedly offered as incentives for Poo, or another unidentified officer from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), to influence the outcome of Chen’s case by reducing penalties or averting prosecution.
Furthermore, over the span of six instances from August 2019 to January 2020, Poo is alleged to have accepted an additional S$18,000 in bribes from Chen, this time as inducements to assist Chen in remaining in Singapore following a criminal conviction.
In a separate incident in September 2020, Poo allegedly misled Chen into believing that a sum of S$10,000 was required to petition two government agencies for permission for Chen to re-enter Singapore after departure. Consequently, Chen was duped into paying Poo the said amount.
Co-Accused in Corruption
Chen Guangyun, aged 37, also finds himself facing legal repercussions, with four new corruption charges brought against him, including one consolidated charge. These developments underline the seriousness with which Singaporean authorities are addressing corruption and misconduct within the ranks of its law enforcement, maintaining a zero-tolerance stance to uphold integrity and public trust in its institutions.
Also learn about Tackling Transnational Scams: Five Malaysians Charged in Singapore.
