MFA fires jailed director-general who lied over trying to use diplomatic bag service to send luxury watches

Update on Mar. 28 at 11:00pm: This article has been updated with a statement from MFA.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has fired a director-general after he was jailed for lying to hide an attempt to bring luxury watches for a female friend into Singapore via a diplomatic bag service.

Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, 46, was dismissed from MFA on Mar. 27, according to a government gazette.

In response to Mothership's enquiries, an MFA spokesperson said that following the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings, Oh has been dismissed from the civil service by the Public Service Commission.

On Feb. 10, Oh was jailed for one week, after he admitted to lying to a colleague and the ministry about his use of the diplomatic bag service, according to The Straits Times (ST).

Diplomatic bags cannot be opened, searched or seized by customs officials as they are protected by diplomatic immunity.

Lied that luxury watches belonged to his father

Court documents stated that on Jan. 12, 2023, Oh asked an MFA colleague who was attached to the Singapore embassy in Beijing, to help transport a package from Beijing back to Singapore using a diplomatic bag service.

Oh lied to the colleague that the items in the package were from his friend's parents. He also claimed his friend was a diplomat, which was untrue.

The items — 21 luxury watches, a ring, and about seven children’s books — were in fact for Oh's female friend, Jiang Si, and belonged to Jiang and her husband.

Jiang was not a Chinese diplomat.

However, as the diplomatic bag service was suspended, Oh's colleague brought the sealed package in his personal luggage.

When the items were uncovered during a bag screening, the colleague said the package was from a Chinese diplomat, and he was carrying it back for Oh.

Oh's colleague was questioned by the police and MFA was informed about the incident.

When Oh was asked by the ministry to explain himself, he lied that the watches belonged to his father.

Court documents stated that Oh was concerned about facing stricter disciplinary action if he told the truth, which could have impacted his career progression.

Oh eventually admitted to the truth during investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) into the case.

Lost appeal against jail sentence

Oh subsequently pleaded guilty in court on Apr. 26, 2024 to giving false information to a public servant.

Two other charges relating to Oh's request to use the diplomatic bag service to courier luxury watches, and using the service to send Panadol to an acquaintance in China, were taken into consideration.

The prosecution asked for a fine of between S$6,000 to S$9,000 for Oh, while the defence asked for a fine of less than S$5,000, ST and CNA reported.

However, the judge sentenced Oh to a jail term instead, arguing that a custodial sentence was justified given "the serious potential consequences to the integrity of the public service and the MFA" both domestically and internationally.

Oh appealed against the jail sentence, but his appeal was dismissed by the High Court on Feb. 10, ST reported.

At that time that Oh's jail sentence started, MFA said that Oh was still an officer but on no-pay leave, according to CNA.

Top image via Bhutan Times, MFA/Facebook & Canva