Wong Chee Meng admitted to taking about S$86,000 in bribes from company director Chia Sin Lan . — TODAY pic
Wong will also pay a penalty of S$23,398.09, while Chia’s building and repair companies will pay S$75,000 in fines each for being in a criminal conspiracy to commit corruption. Chief Justice Menon also rubbished the defence’s arguments that the bribes had to be seen in the context of both men’s close friendship.Last year, in the middle of a trial spanning several months, Wong and Chia pleaded guilty to three counts of corruption each.
Wong was an employee of CPG Facilities Management, the managing agent of the town council that serves the Ang Mo Kio public housing estate. Two more charges for each man, involving salaries paid to Wong’s daughter-in-law by 19-ANC and the mobile phone and subscription that Wong used to make calls to his mistress, were considered for sentencing back then.In his 47-page written judgment today, Chief Justice Menon described the corruption as “fairly sophisticated” and involving “considerable planning and premeditation.