[Crime by Tourists] Tourist charged with bribing NEA officer after smoking along Orchard Road
 |
| A sign informing smokers that they should smoke only at designated areas on Orchard Road. (Photo: CNA file) |
Davina Tham
17 Apr 2025
SINGAPORE: A 41-year-old tourist was on Thursday (Apr 17) charged with giving a bribe to a National Environment Agency (NEA) officer to avoid the penalty for smoking in a non-designated area on Orchard Road.
Huang Qiulin faces a charge of corruptly giving gratification under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He was on holiday in Singapore on Mar 26 when he smoked outside a shopping centre along Orchard Road.
The area was not designated for smoking, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a press release.
Since January 2019, smoking has been banned in public areas in the Orchard Road district except for designated smoking areas.
Huang allegedly offered a S$50 (US$38) bribe to NEA enforcement officer Tan Tar Chuak, in order to induce Mr Tan and two colleagues not to take action against him.
Source: CNA/dv(sf)
SINGAPORE: A 41-year-old tourist was on Thursday (Apr 17) charged with giving a bribe to a National Environment Agency (NEA) officer to avoid the penalty for smoking in a non-designated area on Orchard Road.
Huang Qiulin faces a charge of corruptly giving gratification under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He was on holiday in Singapore on Mar 26 when he smoked outside a shopping centre along Orchard Road.
The area was not designated for smoking, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a press release.
Since January 2019, smoking has been banned in public areas in the Orchard Road district except for designated smoking areas.
Huang allegedly offered a S$50 (US$38) bribe to NEA enforcement officer Tan Tar Chuak, in order to induce Mr Tan and two colleagues not to take action against him.
[$50 for 3 officers? I think the officers were insulted by how cheap he thought they were!]
The enforcement officer rejected the bribe, CPIB said.
Huang who is from China told a district court that he would plead guilty. He is out on bail of S$5,000 and will return to court on May 15.
The punishment for corruption is up to five years in jail or a fine of up to S$100,000, or both.
Offenders caught smoking in a prohibited place may have to pay a composition sum of S$200. If convicted in court, the offenders may be liable to a fine of up to S$1,000.
The enforcement officer rejected the bribe, CPIB said.
Huang who is from China told a district court that he would plead guilty. He is out on bail of S$5,000 and will return to court on May 15.
The punishment for corruption is up to five years in jail or a fine of up to S$100,000, or both.
Offenders caught smoking in a prohibited place may have to pay a composition sum of S$200. If convicted in court, the offenders may be liable to a fine of up to S$1,000.
Source: CNA/dv(sf)
[This should be another data point for "The Laws that Make Singapore Dangerous for Tourists"]
Comments
Post a Comment