Goh Jong Lih (left) was handed a total of 23 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Six of the charges were for obtaining bribes from company director Loo Wei Kiat. -- ST PHOTOS: KELVIN CHNG
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): An operations manager who was working at St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School (SACSS) when she allegedly took bribes from the director of a company specialising in LED displays was charged in court on Tuesday (March 26).
Goh Jong Lih, 61, who The Straits Times understands was a former police officer, was handed a total of 23 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Six of the charges were for obtaining bribes from the director, Loo Wei Kiat, 45, in exchange for advancing the business interests of his firm, Advent Solutions and Projects, with SACSS.
In a press release, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said that on six occasions between February 2020 and December 2021, Goh allegedly obtained bribes in the form of loans worth $9,500 from Loo.
Goh’s other 17 charges were for using various documents to deceive the school – 10 of which were amalgamated charges, where multiple alleged incidents are taken together in a single offence.
These documents were given by Loo on various occasions between 2017 and 2021 and allegedly contained descriptions of various works that were not carried out.
Loo faces six charges of giving bribes to Goh and 14 related to handing some of the documents to Goh. Seven of his latter charges are amalgamated ones.
Goh was represented in court on March 26 by Mr S.S. Dhillon who said he had just taken on the matter. Her case was adjourned to April 23.
Loo’s matter was also adjourned to the same date after he told the court that he was looking to appoint a lawyer.
For each charge of corruption that Loo and Goh face, they can be jailed for up to five years, fined up to $100,000, or both. For each of the amalgamated charges, they are liable to double the punishment.
In response to queries from ST, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education (MOE) said it is aware of the court case and will follow up with disciplinary proceedings accordingly after the case has concluded.
“MOE takes a serious view of staff misconduct and will take disciplinary action against those who fail to adhere to our standards of conduct and discipline,” the spokesperson added. - The Straits Times/ANN
