SINGAPORE – A former executive of BP Singapore was hauled to court on Thursday (March 9) to face charges of obtaining about US$4 million (S$5.7 million) in bribes from a businessman to advance the business interest of the latter’s company with the oil and gas company.

The man faces 47 charges.

Clarence Chang Peng Hong, 51, BP’s former eastern regional director for marine fuels, is accused of 19 counts of corruptly obtaining bribes amounting to US$3.95 million from Mr Koh Seng Lee, executive director of Pacific Prime Trading (PPT), as an inducement for advancing the business interest of PPT with BP.

The alleged offences took place between July 2006 and September 2008.

He is said to have corruptly agreed to accept a bribe of $500,000 from Mr Koh before September 2009 to advance the business interest of PPT with BP.

On 16 occasions between January 2007 and March 2010, Chang was the regional marine sales manager when he allegedly transferred $4.7 million, which were benefits of corrupt proceeds, from a HSBC account in Hong Kong to a POSB Bank account and two other HSBC Singapore accounts.

The amounts ranged from $76,568 to $725,500.

He also faces 10 charges of converting property amounting to $3.97 million which, in whole or in part, were direct or indirect benefits of corrupt proceeds, to acquire three houses at Da Silva Lane, Jalan Limau Purut and Ettrick Terrace, and two condominiums in Pasir Ris Grove.

He is also accused of converting $111,000 which were the benefits of corruption to acquire share capital in Mindchamps Preschool @ City Square on Sept 16, 2009.

Chang, who was represented by lawyer Alfonso Ang, will appear in court again. He is out on $200,000 bail and his case will be next mentioned on April 6.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said in a statement that Singapore adopts a zero tolerance approach towards corruption. The bureau said it takes a serious view of any corrupt practices and will not hesitate to take action against any party involved in such acts.

The maximum punishment for corruption is a $100,000 fine and five years’ jail on each charge.

If convicted of offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, he could be fined up to $500,000 and/or jailed for up to seven years on each charge.

This article was first published on March 9, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – Ride-hailing firms Grab and Uber said they will be helping drivers to defray the costs of meeting the requirements for the new Private Hire Car Driver Vocational Licence (PDVL).

The Land Transport Authority announced on Thursday (March 9) that applications for the vocational licence will open next Monday.

Grab said it will help drivers on its GrabCar platform defray the costs of licence-related charges such as application fees, medical check-ups as well as training and test fees.

These expenses will come from a $10 million fund Grab is allocating towards the GrabCar platform, $2 million of which will go to a drivers’ incentive programme.

Grab will also update its drivers app to require that drivers verify their identities using biometric or facial recognition, to ensure that they are licensed.

Drivers will receive notifications when their vocational licence and commercial insurance policies are nearing expiry.

Grab is also partnering with the National Private Hire Vehicles Association to provide full-time GrabCar drivers with MediSave. It will match a percentage of the driver’s incentives, subject to the driver’s own MediSave contributions and capped at $200 monthly.

Grab Singapore head Lim Kell Jay said these initiatives are aimed at making driving a “long term sustainable option” for more people here.

Rival firm Uber said that is also helping its drivers move to the licensing scheme through an Uber Fastlane Programme.

The programme will give drivers a 12-month extension to their vocational licence until June 30, 2018. The firm said its processes can also help drivers get the vocational licence in two to three weeks instead of the estimated four to six weeks if drivers applied themselves.

The programme will also offer free medical check-ups and free vocational licence training for drivers.

Uber said: “This programme was developed in consultation with the LTA and is in line with best practices from Uber operations around the world.”

Applicants for the new Private Hire Car Driver Vocational Licence are required to attend a 10-hour course and hold a Class 3/3A driving licence which has been valid for a continuous period of at least two years.

All applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination, and will be subject to background checks. There is a non-refundable $40 application fee.

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This article was first published on March 9, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – A police car was involved in an accident with three other cars and three motorcycles parked at a Jurong East carpark on Thursday (March 9) morning.

The accident took place at Jurong East Street 21, near Block 218, at around 7.30am.

Photos showed that the vehicles involved suffered varying degrees of damage, including smashed bumpers and shattered windscreens.

Eyewitnesses told Shin Min Daily News that there were two police officers – a man and a woman – in the car. The male police officer was said to be the driver.

He suffered light injuries. No one else was injured.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it sent an ambulance down to the accident site but the driver refused to be taken to hospital.

It is not known yet what caused the accident.

When contacted, a police spokesman said that investigations are ongoing.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, who is a Member of Parliament for the Yuhua constituency, said in a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon that she had been informed of the accident.

Ms Fu revealed that one of the cars had collided with a lift shaft of a HDB block, although she assured residents that the damage was not structural and did not compromise their safety.

“Jurong East NPC has contacted the affected parties, and we are working together to offer additional support and assistance to the vehicle owners and their families,” she wrote.

“I am relieved to learn that we have escaped serious injury. I stand ready to assist the vehicle owners who have suffered damages.”

This article was first published on March 9, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE – Following enforcement operations against errant massage parlours since the start of the year, a total of 13 massage parlour operators are expected to be charged in court for various breaches.

In a statement on Thursday (Mar 9), the police said that a group of 12 operators, comprising four men and eight women aged between 39 and 66, will be charged for operating massage parlours without valid licenses.

They were also found to have contravened licensing conditions under the Massage Establishments Act.

Meanwhile, the police also said that another 38-year-old woman will also be charged for violating licensing conditions.

The operations were carried out by officers from the police’s Central Division, and targeted establishments in the Chinatown, Little India, Jalan Besar, Bugis and City Hall areas.

seanyap@sph.com.sg