Singapore Charges Two Chinese Workers for Taking S$1 Bribe; May Face S$100,000 Fine and 5 Years Prison
Singapore's anti-grant authority said that it will not let its clean image be affected even if the amount of bribe is small.
Two migrant workers in Singapore were charged for taking S$1 (Rs 52.73) bribe multiple times for quickening some loading and unloading of vehicles. Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in a press release said that 47-year-old Chen Ziliang and 43-year-old Zhao Yucun who work as forklift operators at Cogent Container Depot took the bribes from truck drivers passing from there. Its anti-grant authority said that it will not let its clean image be affected even if the amount of bribe is small.
The forklift operators may now face a fine of upto S$100,000 (Rs 52,69,870) or a prison upto five years, or both. Reuters reported The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau in a statement said that Chen was charged with one count of trying to obtain S$1 as bribe from a truck driver in exchange "for not delaying the collection of a container onto" his truck. Two Leaves Bribery Symbol: Trouble Mounts For TTV Dhinakaran; Patiala House Court Frames Charges Under Section 120B And 201.
Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said in a statement that employees are expected to work "fairly". The agency said, "Even if the bribe amount is as low as $1, they can be taken to task. Bribes of any amount or any kind will not be tolerated." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Denies Bribery Charge After Police Recommends Indicting Him in 3rd Corruption Case.
Singapore is known for its zero tolerance policy towards corruption. The island nation is among the least corrupt countries in the world. Singapore ranks sixth on Transparency International's 2017 Corruption Perception Index, a position it holds since 1995. Top six countries on the list are New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Switzerland. In a 2017-2018 Rule of Law Index compiled by the World Justice Project, Singapore was ranked 4th for the absence of corruption.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 12, 2018 09:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).