Family of four charged with bribing condo and property managers to further family business
The family of four includes Ong Chin Kee, 66, and his wife, Lea Lam Moy, 66, who are directors of OCL Building Services. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Family of four charged with bribing condo and property managers to further family business
SINGAPORE - A couple and their two sons who allegedly gave bribes to condominium and property managers to further the interests of their family construction business were charged on June 26.
The family of four includes Ong Chin Kee, 66, and his wife, Lea Lam Moy, 66, who are directors of OCL Building Services.
Their sons, the firm's project director Jovi Ong Teng Hong, 36, and general manager Jordan Ong Wei How, 30, were also charged .
Each of the four was handed 17 charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In a statement, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said the offences committed by the Singaporeans allegedly occurred between 2018 and 2022 and involved $56,260 in bribes.
According to company records, OCL are primarily general contractors for building construction and major upgrading works, while its secondary business activity is listed as painting and decorating.
Ong Chin Kee was also handed four charges for allegedly obstructing the course of justice, CPIB added.
Between June and November 2023, he had on four occasions allegedly instigated two individuals to change their statements given to the CPIB pertaining to the ongoing investigation against him and OCL.
He had also allegedly informed two others of an investigation by the CPIB against them and the company.
In court on June 26, the lawyer representing each of the four told the court they were contesting the charges.
Their cases were adjourned to July 24 for a pre-trial conference.
Five alleged bribe recipients were also charged on June 26.
They included Lim Pei Xiong, 31, who was a condominium manager at Thomson View Condominium and The Cotz in Telok Kurau.
The Malaysian was handed two corruption charges for allegedly receiving $23,500 in bribes for furthering the business interests of OCL with the two condominiums.
Singaporean Theva Sundram, 71, was handed four corruption charges.
He had allegedly accepted bribes amounting to $20,260 over seven occasions between 2019 and 2022, for furthering the business interests of OCL with The Ladyhill in Tanglin where he was a condominium manager.
Singaporean Roberta Mok Yen Kwei, 40, was handed a corruption charge for allegedly accepting $5,000 in bribes over four occasions in 2022 for furthering the business interests of OCL with Novotel, Flora Vista in Ang Mo Kio and Change Alley Mall at Raffles Place where she was a manager.
Azman Abdul Rahim, 61, a property officer at Craig Place in Outram was handed two corruption charges.
Over three occasions in 2020, the Singaporean had allegedly accepted $3,400 in bribes for furthering the business interests of OCL with the condominium.
Lim Tian Teck, 57, who was a condominium manager at Citylights Condominium in Kallang and Trevista in Toa Payoh, was handed four corruption charges.
The Singaporean had over four occasions between 2018 and 2019 allegedly accepted $2,600 in bribes for furthering the business interests of OCL with the two condominiums.
In court on June 26, Theva, Lim Pei Xiong, Lim Tian Teck and Mok indicated their intention to plead guilty, while Azman said he was undecided, and intended to engage a lawyer.
Two other individuals in connection to this case were also charged with alleged corruption and obstruction of justice offences.
Ong Chin Sin, 64, the sole proprietor of NY Furnishing & Renovation, had allegedly given $4,000 in bribes over three occasions between 2015 and 2022 to Zulkifli Hussain, 60, a senior facilities manager employed by Lasalle College of the Arts to further the business interests of his company with the school.
He is not related to Ong Chin Kee.
In 2023, Ong Chin Sin allegedly obstructed the course of justice by deleting incriminatory messages exchanged between him and Ong Chin Kee that were connected to an ongoing investigation against the former.
Ong Chin Sin and Zulkifli , both Singaporeans, were each handed three corruption charges, while the former was handed a further obstruction of justice charge.
Zulkifli told the court he intended to plead guilty, and had appointed a lawyer who was unable to attend the hearing.
Meanwhile, Ong Chin Sin's lawyer told the court he had just been appointed and needed time to take instructions from his client.
CPIB said it looks into all corruption-related complaints and reports, including anonymous ones.
The public can make an e-complaint on CPIB's website, send an e-mail to report@cpib.gov.sg, call 1800-376-0000 or write in to the CPIB Headquarters at 2 Lengkok Bahru, S159047.
Those found guilty of corruption, can each be fined up to $100,000 or jailed for up to five years, or both.
Those convicted of obstruction of justice can be fined, jailed for up to seven years, or both.
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