A former director of resources at the British Council Singapore has been sentenced to 16 weeks in jail for accepting bribes totaling S$100,300 (US$74,000) from vendors. Lee Kok Keong, 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of receiving bribes under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kok Keong held the position of director of resources at the British Council from September 2014 to February 2020. During this time, he accepted cash bribes from Lee Lian Hiang, 55, and Ong Seck Cheng, 52, to help their companies secure projects with the international organization.
Lian Hiang, the director of BuildCool Engineering Services, a vendor for the British Council, struck a deal with Kok Keong in 2014. They agreed that Kok Keong would provide insider information about upcoming projects to give BuildCool an advantage in tender preparations.
Kok Keong ensured that BuildCool was always invited to quote for projects, increasing its chances of winning contracts. He also collaborated with Lian Hiang to set budgets for projects and discuss other vendors’ tenders.
In return, Kok Keong received a cut of BuildCool’s profits, which he used for daily expenses and settling credit card bills. He received a total of S$84,500 from Lian Hiang and S$15,800 from Ong between 2015 and 2020.
Kok Keong has voluntarily made full restitution and will begin serving his sentence on June 24, 2024. He is part of a group of 16 individuals charged with corruption and cheating offences earlier this year. Each count of corruption carries a maximum punishment of a S$100,000 fine and a five-year jail term under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
