4 Certis officers charged with corruption, allegedly received bribes by man to omit checks on him at Jurong Port & Tuas

Four Certis officers contracted by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) along with one other individual were charged in court for corruption and disclosing confidential information on Friday (Aug. 8).

The alleged offences took place at Jurong Port and Tuas Checkpoint between June 2021 and April 2024.

Corrupt gratification provided

Details of the offences and charges were shared in a joint press release by Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau and Singapore Customs.

The offences related to bribes given out by Muhammad Sukaimi Bin Gasali, 34, to four Certis officers.

The officers are:

• Sri Daniah Binte Abdul Razak, 26
• Muhammad Haaziq Bin Karudin, 33
• Muhammad Khairul Amir Bin Suhaimi, 25
• Mohamad Aziffi Bin Selamat, 32

The officers were contracted by ICA at the time of the offences.

Between June 2021 and July 2023, Sukaimi allegedly provided bribes totalling S$7,661 to the officers to omit enforcement checks against him at Jurong Port over multiple occasions.

Sukaimi is also alleged to have given a total of S$2,190 to Daniah between February to April 2024 for disclosing confidential information on enforcement actions at Tuas Checkpoint over multiple occasions.

What officers did

Breached Official Secrets Act

Apart from omitting enforcement checks, the officers are also alleged to have provided information on enforcement checks and their deployment schedules to Sukaimi.

Between June 2021 to March 2023, Khairul and Aziffi provided information to Sukaimi on multiple occasions about their deployment at Jurong Port.

Between March 2022 and April 2024, Haaziq provided information to Sukaimi about enforcement checks at Jurong Port, while Daniah shared information about checks at Tuas Checkpoint.

Worked together to import duty-unpaid cigarettes

Additionally, Daniah is also alleged to have worked with Sukaimi to import 22 cartons and 470 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Following searches, 16 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were discovered at Sukaimi's residence, while 9 packets were found at Daniah's.

The total GST evaded amounted to about S$10,914.

Charged

Sukaimi faces six amalgamated charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, four charges under the Official Secrets Act, two charges of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy to import duty-unpaid cigarettes, four charges of storing uncustomed goods and two charges for dealing with uncustomed goods.

Daniah faces two amalgamated charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, one amagalmated charge under the Official Secrets Act, two charges of abetment by engaging in a conspiracy to import duty-unpaid cigarettes, and two charges for storing uncustomed goods.

Haaziq, Khairul, and Aziffi each face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Official Secrets Act.

Any person convicted of a corruption offence under Section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act can be fined up to S$100,000 or sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding five years or to both.

Any person convicted of an offence under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act can be fined up to S$2,000 and sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding two years

For buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.

Under Singapore's criminal code, amalgamated charges mean offenders can face twice the amount of punishment liable.

Sukaimi, Daniah and Haziq are set to return to court on Sep. 5 for their next hearing, while Khairul and Aziffi are set to plead guilty on Sep. 19, as reported by The Straits Times.

Top image via Certis website