Ex-Certis officer, 38, tips ex-colleague off about CPIB vape probe & throwing vape away, both get 1 week jail

A former Certis Cisco auxiliary police officer was jailed after he tipped his former colleague off about a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) investigation into the handling of e-vaporisers and contraband cigarettes.

He had advised his former colleague to throw away his e-vaporisers, prompting the latter to dispose of at least one e-vaporiser and three packs of e-vaporiser pods.

According to a Jul. 17 CNA report, 38-year-old Tan Wee Keong was sentenced to a week's jail after pleading guilty to one count of obstructing justice by disclosing information about a CPIB investigation and advising his former colleague to throw away the implicated items.

His former colleague, 33-year-old Reggie Choo Beng Kwang, was also sentenced to one week's jail after pleading guilty to a similar charge.

A second charge of obstructing the course of justice by deleting a WhatsApp conversation with Tan was taken into consideration during Choo's sentencing.

The pair were among 13 former Certis enforcement officers charged in January 2026 over offences including the possession of e-vaporisers and contraband cigarettes, and the misappropriation of items entrusted to them.

They were the last of the group to be sentenced, after the remaining officers received jail terms ranging from 10 days to two years on Jul. 10.

The case

Court documents seen by Mothership stated that at the time of the offences, Tan was an assistant enforcement supervisor with the Certis Cisco Auxiliary Police Force deployed to the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) Tobacco Regulation Branch (TRB).

Choo was also an officer with TRB before resigning prior to May 2022.

The two became friends in 2018.

Around May 2022, Tan learnt that Choo used e-vaporisers and e-vaporiser pods.

On Jul. 26, 2022, Tan was interviewed by CPIB as part of investigations into Certis officers attached to HSA's TRB and their handling of e-vaporisers and contraband cigarettes.

Investigators had instructed Tan not to discuss the investigation with anyone.

Despite this, Tan called Choo a few days later and told him that he had been interviewed by CPIB.

He said that several people had been caught for possessing e-vaporisers and that Choo's name had surfaced during the interview.

Tan advised Choo to stop vaping, saying it was bad for his health, and that it was best that Choo threw his "vape" away.

After realising he could be under investigation, Choo disposed of at least one e-vaporiser and three packs of e-vaporiser pods between July and August 2022, fearing they might be discovered.

Sentencing

The prosecution sought jail terms of two to four weeks for both men, court documents stated.

It argued that although the offence was of low severity, a custodial sentence was warranted as Tan, a law enforcement officer, had deliberately disclosed confidential information to help cover up an offence by another law enforcement officer.

The prosecution said Tan knew he was prohibited from discussing the investigation, having been expressly instructed by CPIB not to do so, but nevertheless chose to reveal the information.

"This cannot be spontaneous and evinces a degree of premeditation," it said.

For Choo, the prosecution argued that he knowingly disposed of potential evidence after learning he was under investigation, similarly showing a degree of premeditation.

According to CNA, Tan's lawyer sought a fine of between S$5,000 and S$7,000, or alternatively, a jail term of no more than one week.

The defence submitted that Tan had not abused his position as a Certis Cisco officer to commit the offence and that his status as a law enforcement officer at the time of the offence should not automatically warrant a custodial sentence.

Representing himself, Choo told the court that he had switched from cigarettes to e-vaporisers in an effort to quit smoking for the sake of his children's health.

He asked the court to impose a fine instead of a jail term.

A person convicted of intentionally obstructing the course of justice can be sentenced to up to seven years' imprisonment, fined, or both.