- Ex-British Council director jailed for bribery.
- Accepted S$100,300 in bribes from vendors.
- Helped vendors secure projects in corrupt deals
- Made full restitution, begins jail term June 24
A former director of resources at the British Council Singapore, Lee Kok Keong, 50, has been sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for accepting bribes totaling S$100,300 (US$74,000) from vendors. Keong pleaded guilty to three counts of receiving bribes under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with another 12 charges considered during sentencing.
From September 2014 to February 2020, Kok Keong held the position of director of resources at the British Council and was in charge of planning and budgeting for the management of its premises. During this time, he accepted cash bribes from his co-accused, Lee Lian Hiang, 55, and Ong Seck Cheng, 52, to “facilitate their companies in securing projects with the international organisation.”
Around 2014, Lian Hiang, the director of BuildCool Engineering Services, a longstanding vendor for the British Council, struck a deal with Kok Keong. The two agreed that Kok Keong would provide BuildCool with insider information about upcoming projects, giving the company an advantage in tender preparations.
Kok Keong ensured that BuildCool was always invited to quote for all projects, thereby increasing its chances of winning contracts. Moreover, he collaborated with Lian Hiang to determine indicative pricing for works to be done and set appropriate budgets for the projects.
The resources director also discussed other vendors’ tenders with the BuildCool director and helped him prepare for tender committee interviews. Kok Keong would in turn receive a cut of BuildCool’s profits, which were paid in cash to avoid leaving a paper trail.
From 2014 to 2018, Kok Keong received a total of S$84,500 from Lian Hiang. He also accepted another S$15,800 in bribes between 2015 and 2020 from Ong, the director of corporate renovation services provider Encompass Construction.
Kok Keong similarly helped Ong secure projects with the British Council for about 5-10% of the value of the entire contract won as commission. According to Kok Keong’s lawyer, he has voluntarily made full restitution.
Meanwhile, Kok Keong is set to begin serving his sentence on June 24, 2024. Lee Kok Keong, Lee Lian Hiang, and Ong Seck Cheng are parts of a group of 16 individuals who were charged with corruption and cheating offences in relation to advertisement and servicing contracts earlier this year.
Under the Prevention of Corruption Act, each count of corruption carries a maximum punishment of a S$100,000 fine and a five-year jail term, while those convicted of cheating can be fined and sentenced to up to three years in jail.
The case serves as a reminder of the seriousness of corruption offences and the need for individuals in positions of power to uphold integrity and transparency in their dealings.
