S'porean woman, 42, caught using Causeway bus lane tried to bribe ICA auxiliary officer, jailed

A 42-year-old Singaporean woman who attempted to bribe an auxiliary police officer twice at Woodlands Checkpoint was sentenced to three weeks in jail on Nov.15.

She pleaded guilty to a charge of violating the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The woman had illegally driven into the bus lane at the checkpoint on Jul. 17, where she attempted to give the officer RM50 (S$15) and S$50 "hush money", hoping he would turn a blind eye.

The officer did not accept the bribe.

What happened

Wang Xiping drove to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Jul. 17 to accompany her friend in collecting a medical examination report and show the latter around the city, Lianhe Zaobao and Shin Min Daily News reported.

While Wang frequently visited Johor, it was her friend's first time visiting Malaysia.

Wang had been driving towards the Causeway after passing the Woodlands Checkpoint at around 10:50am when an auxiliary police officer under the employ of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) noticed that her car was in the bus lane.

The officer instructed her to stop and requested that she return to Woodlands Checkpoint so she could enter Malaysia through the lane designated for cars.

Wang then reached into her handbag and pulled out an RM50 (S$15) note, hoping the bribe would allow her to continue driving in the bus lane.

The officer immediately refused and asked Wang to show her passport.

She then handed over her passport, along with a S$50 note, saying she needed to go to the hospital.

The officer rejected the bribe, reprimanded Wang for her behaviour, and informed her that the officer's body-worn camera had captured the entire exchange.

Wang was arrested at 11:30am that day at Woodlands Checkpoint and was subsequently released on bail.

Wang said she mistook the officer to be a Malaysian police officer

Wang said she had felt anxious at the time and had mistaken the auxiliary police officer to be a Malaysian police officer.

She added her English was not good and assumed the officer had rejected her initial bribe because he wanted more money.

Though Wang had passed the checkpoint and was driving on the Causeway, she was still within Singapore's borders when she bribed the officer, the prosecution said.

Pleaded for leniency

The prosecution highlighted that Wang had attempted to bribe the officer twice and suggested the Judge sentenced her to three to four weeks in prison.

The Judge also stressed how bribing law enforcement is a serious crime during the sentencing.

Wang pleaded for leniency, saying she had to take care of her four children, with the youngest being less than a year old.

Her husband was also overseas for business and would not be returning to Singapore soon, Wang added.

She requested her sentence to be postponed until Nov. 18 so she could make arrangements for her children.

The district judge approved her request.

Top image via Google Maps and Shin Min Daily News