While corruption is low in Singapore, below were a few notable Singaporean corruption-related incidents in both the public and private sector and their subsequent conclusion.
Tan Kia Gan (1966) In August 1966,
Tan Kia Gan, a former
Minister for National Development (1960–1963), was investigated for attempting to assist businessman Lim Tjin Hauw and his son William Lim in securing the sale of a Boeing aircraft to Malaysian Airways. In exchange, he received 70,000 shares valued at S$1 each. As Tan lost his parliamentary seat in the
1963 general elections, he was administratively relieved of all his public appointments by the Singaporean government.
Wee Toon Boon (1975) In 1975,
Wee Toon Boon, a Minister of State for
Defence and
the Environment, was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to four years and six months in prison, which was reduced to 18 months upon appeal.
Phey Yew Kok (1979) In 1979,
Phey Yew Kok, the chairman of the
National Trades Union Congress and a Member of Parliament for
Boon Teck SMC, was charged with misuse of union funds and criminal breach of trust. Phey went on the run for the next 35 years until he surrendered to the Singapore embassy in Bangkok in 2015. Phey later pleaded guilty to 12 of the 34 charges against him and was sentenced to 60 months' imprisonment.
Teh Cheang Wan (1986) In 1986,
Teh Cheang Wan, the
Minister for National Development, was investigated by the
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for alleged corruption. Teh committed suicide on 14 December 1986 before he could be charged in court.
Koh Seah Wee & Christopher Lim Chai Meng (2011) In 2011, Koh Seah Wee, a former deputy director of technology and infrastructure in the
Singapore Land Authority (SLA), and Christopher Lim Chai Meng, a former manager in the SLA, were found guilty by the High Court of cheating and money laundering charges. Koh was sentenced to 22 years in prison after admitting to 59 charges and Lim was sentenced to 15 years after admitting to 49 charges. Of the S$12.2 million laundered, S$7.5 million was recovered from Koh. Koh and Lim had cheated the SLA by using false invoices issued by former swimming coach Ho Yen Teck, who had set up seven sole proprietorships to provide fake IT maintenance services and goods that were not delivered. Ho was jailed for 10 years for the conspiracy.
Peter Lim Sin Pang (2012) On 19 December 2011, Peter Lim Sin Pang, former commissioner of the
Singapore Civil Defence Force, was arrested by the
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) while Ng Boon Gay, former chief of the
Central Narcotics Bureau, was also taken in for questioning by the CPIB on 4 January 2012. Both men were being investigated in connection with the
Prevention of Corruption Act relating to an IT contract, and in late January 2012, it was announced that they also faced disciplinary action by the
Public Service Commission, which oversees the conduct of civil servants. The two men were then interdicted, a step only taken when an individual "faces serious offences for which criminal proceedings or proceedings for his dismissal or reduction in rank are being contemplated."
Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister, promised that the CPIB would follow through with the probe. while Ng was acquitted of four charges of corruptly obtaining sexual gratification from a woman.
Bernard Lim Yong Soon (2012) In July 2012, the purchase of 26
Brompton foldable bicycles (at the cost of S$2,000 each) by the
National Parks Board (NParks) sparked a nationwide uproar after it was revealed by a whistleblower on the online forum
HardwareZone of possible corruption and numerous red flags in the way the procurement was done.
Khaw Boon Wan, the
Minister of National Development, initially defended the NParks's purchase of the foldable bicycles. A subsequent investigation by the
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) resulted in the arrest of Bernard Lim Yong Soon, an assistant director at NParks. Lim was found guilty of lying to auditors about his relationship with the bicycle firm, which was awarded the tender, and given the maximum fine of S$5,000.
Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong (2013) On 23 July 2013, Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong of the
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was charged with misappropriating at least S$1.7 million from the CPIB between 2008 and 2012. Yeo was interdicted from his position as head of field research and technical support at the CPIB to assist in a
Commercial Affairs Department probe into his suspected financial impropriety. Eight of the charges were for misappropriating funds and
criminal breach of trust, one was for forgery and the rest were for using part of his ill-got gains to gamble at the
Marina Bay Sands casino. On 20 February 2014, Yeo was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Lim Cheng Hoe (2014) On 20 February 2014, Lim Cheng Hoe, a former protocol chief at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was sentenced to 15 months' jail for cheating. From February 2008 to May 2012, Lim had made false claims for S$89,000 worth of pineapple tarts and wine as gifts for foreign diplomats.
Victor Wong Chee Meng (2016) In 2016, Victor Wong Chee Meng, the general manager and secretary of
Ang Mo Kio Town Council, was removed from his position and investigated by the
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau after a complaint was lodged in September 2016 over "the way he handles contracts and dealings in the town council". Wong, a
Public Service Medal recipient, was concurrently an employee of
CPG Facilities Management, the appointed managing agent of the town council. On 14 March 2018, Wong was charged with 55 counts of corruption for receiving some S$107,000 in bribes from Chia Sin Lan and Alisa Yip Fong Yin, the directors of two building and repair companies. Wong and Chia pleaded guilty during the trial and were sentenced to 27 months and 21 months in prison, respectively. After appealing against their sentences, both had their sentences extended to 39 months and 33 months, respectively. Keppel Corporation is one of the
government-linked companies (GLCs) under
Temasek Holdings. It was the biggest corruption case involving a GLC in Singapore's history. The
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau started investigations on the six former Keppel O&M employees who were involved in the case. The investigations had to be closed in 2023 due to insufficient evidence and the inability to summon key witnesses from other countries. Six former Keppel O&M employees received warnings in lieu of prosecution.
S. Iswaran (2023) In July 2023, the
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) formally opened an investigation into
S. Iswaran, the
Minister for Transport, and arrested him along with property tycoon
Ong Beng Seng. Although both men were released on bail, Iswaran was interdicted and his ministerial pay was reduced to S$8,500. On 9 January 2024,
Chan Chun Sing, the
Minister-in-charge of the Public Service and
Minister for Education, issued a parliamentary reply that investigations into Iswaran were completed and that the
Attorney General's Chambers were reviewing the case. Nine days later, Iswaran arrived at the
State Courts where the charges against him were read for the first time. Iswaran became the first minister to be investigated for corruption in Singapore since 1986 and the first minister to be charged and to face trial in court since 1975. two charges were for corruptly obtaining favours to advance Ong's business interests through contracts between the
Singapore Tourism Board and a private company chaired by Ong; On 24 September, the prosecution went ahead with only four charges of obtaining valuable items as a public servant and one charge of obstructing the course of justice against Iswaran, who pleaded guilty to all five charges. He was placed on the Home Detention Scheme on 7 February 2025. It was reported on 7 June 2025 that he had completed his sentence. == See also ==