A 44-year-old Chinese national has been sentenced to two months and two weeks in prison on Jul. 22, 2020, after he was found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to deter two Certis Cisco Auxiliary Police Force Pte Ltd officers from their duties, and attempting to bribe them with S$12.
Found smoking in prohibited place
According to a joint press statement by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), the man, Liu Huibin, was spotted smoking at the void deck of a block in Sumang Link on Jan. 27, 2020, by two Certis Cisco officers, Aruna Magathevan, an authorised auxiliary police officer of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) and Mohammed Latiff Bin Mohd Ali, an enforcement officer attached to the NEA.
Upon investigating, the two officers had approached Liu with the intention to issue him a Notice to Attend Court as Liu had committed an offence of smoking in a specified place under Section 3(2) of the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act.
After realising the offence that he had committed, Liu tried to walk away from the scene but was stopped by Aruna and Mohammed.
As he was unwilling to produce his particulars, the officers called for the police and asked Liu to wait for the arrival of the police officers.
Caused hurt to officer & tried to bribe them with S$12
While waiting for the police to arrive, Liu attempted to leave the scene and grabbed the wrist of one of the Certis Cisco officers.
He then pushed her shoulder, causing the officer to suffer a bruise on her left wrist.
The man subsequently took out S$12, one S$10 note and one S$2 note, and offered the notes to both officers in attempt to bribe them. Both officers rejected his offer.
Officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division responded to the incident and established Liu’s identity.
Liu was charged in court on Jul. 9 for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, and corruptly offering gratification to two officers.
He was convicted on July 22 for his offences.
"The CPIB would like to commend Aruna and Mohammed for their acts of integrity. The police and CPIB adopt a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and the assault of any public officers performing their duty," the joint statement wrote.
For voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty punishable under Section 332 of the Penal Code, Liu is liable to an imprisonment term of up to seven years and a fine or to caning.
For a corruption offence, anyone who is convicted will be liable to a fine of up to $100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years or to both.
Top image for illustration purposes via Syahindah Ishak