Posted on: October 6, 2023, 08:29h.
Last updated on: October 6, 2023, 08:29h.
A Singaporean man involved in a bribery scheme at the Singapore Zoo has been sentenced to jail. Too Say Kiong, an employee of Shin Yong Construction, will serve 26 months in jail for engaging in a graft conspiracy. His actions spanned several years and continued the corrupt practices of his father. The scheme involved bribes to ensure that construction jobs at the zoo were awarded to Shin Yong Construction. Several individuals, including Too, benefited from the scheme.
The illegal activities were discovered in 2016 when an investigation was launched by Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau. Shin Yong Construction received millions of dollars worth of work through the scheme, while Wildlife Reserves Singapore incurred significant losses. The scheme involved the director of facilities management at the zoo, who instructed Too on bid prices to ensure contracts were awarded to Shin Yong Construction.
Several other companies also received contracts through the scheme, resulting in financial losses for Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
Despite the transition to a specialized team managing the distribution of work, the team still followed the director’s lead and recommendations. Payments were made weekly, with Too’s brother arranging the delivery of the cash. Too’s involvement in the scheme spanned over 100 occasions, and he received a significant sum of money.
The End of the Line
Prosecutors sought a jail term of 24 to 30 months, highlighting the negative impact of the scheme on other contractors. Too received additional payments from contractors, further implicating him in the arrangement. Despite claims about the impact on his mental health, the judge emphasized the significance of Too’s role in the scheme and his choice to continue participating.