Town council management employee, 56, charged for allegedly taking S$50,000 bribe, spent part of it on family expenses

An employee of West Coast Town Council's management agency was charged on Sep. 7 for allegedly taking a S$50,000 bribe from a maintenance firm director.

Ng Yin Hong, a 56-year-old Singaporean, was a senior project manager at EM Services at the time of the supposed offences, according to a press release by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

EM Services is a joint venture between the Housing & Development Board (HDB) and Keppel Land.

In response to Mothership's queries, EM Services said his employment with the company ceased in 2024.

Advancing business interests

In February 2023, Yin Hong allegedly took a S$50,000 bribe from Ng Choon Mong, the director of Atlas Maintenance at the time.

Choon Mong, who was also charged for corruption on Sep. 7, allegedly wanted to advance his firm's business interests in a repairs and redecoration contract with West Coast Town Council.

Besides the corruption charge, Yin Hong was also handed a second charge for using the money he got from the bribe.

He allegedly used S$12,500 of it on family expenses between February and April 2023.

He did not indicate how he would plead, and will have his case heard at court again on Oct. 5.

Choon Mong indicated he would plead not guilty, and will have a pre-trial conference on Oct. 19.

Another case

Last month, another EM Services employee linked to a town council contract was charged for taking bribes.

On Aug. 21, a 63-year-old former senior project manager at EM Services was charged for allegedly taking a total of S$220,000 in bribes separately from the directors of three companies.

They were given as an inducement for proposed contracts with Holland-Bukit Panjang, Sembawang, and Sengkang Town Council.