This one LeeLaoPeh no rescue?

[Lee Hsien Tau]

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July 30, 2009
Ex-cop jailed for graft
By Elena Chong

Ong Thiam Hock (left) accepted bribes and sexual favours from an unlicensed masseur in return for tipping her off about impending police raids on illegal massage parlours. --ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW


IT HAS been a long fall from grace for Ong Thiam Hock, formerly a decorated police officer.

Once commended and awarded for his dedication and teamwork, he will now serve 30 months behind bars for corruption.

The married father of two accepted bribes and sexual favours from an unlicensed masseur in return for tipping her off about impending police raids on illegal massage parlours.

Ong, who held the rank of senior staff sergeant, was a compliance management officer in the Clementi police division. He resigned last year when investigations into his case began.

Jail term aside, he was on Thursday ordered to pay a penalty of $7,000, that being the amount in bribes he took from Ms Zhong Xiaoqin, 36, the masseur.

Ong pleaded guilty to five of 12 charges of accepting $5,500 from her between May and July last year.

The other seven charges - including receiving sexual favours five times from her - were considered during sentencing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Andrew Tan said Ong became acquainted with Ms Zhong in November 2007, when he and other officers raided a massage parlour at Beauty World Centre in Upper Bukit Timah.

Thereafter, they kept in touch socially. When Ms Zhong began running Tian Zi, an unlicensed massage parlour in Clementi last year, she bribed Ong for tip-offs on impending raids so her business would not be hit.

Investigations showed he gave her tip-offs twice: In late May last year, he advised her to keep her shop closed the day a raid was to be carried out; the following month, he told her he would raid her shop to give the appearance that he was carrying out his duty.

 

[Lee Hsien Tau]

But this one rescue?


ST February 3, 2007
By Elena Chong

A former police officer was charged in court yesterday with 10 counts of corruption and two counts of cheating involving a total of about $12,000.

Ex-senior station inspector Ko Poh Koon, 48, whose services had been terminated in January 2005, allegedly accepted free dinner and entertainment from businessmen Joseph Teo Kee Lip and Albert Teo Teck Hee when he was with the Secret Societies Branch, Criminal Investigation Department.

This was allegedly in exchange for providing 'protection' to a Nigerian associate of the two Teos, and for help on police matters.

In September 2004, he allegedly lent Mr Albert Teo $20,000, but said it came from a friend. He told Mr Teo, 38, that the friend wanted $10,000 in interest and convinced him to hand over $5,000 as part payment. The following month, Ko is said to have lent Mr Albert Teo $5,000, but wanted $2,000 as interest.

Ko has applied for time to make representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers. He faces a fine of $100,000 or five years in jail or both for corruption. The penalty for cheating is up to seven years in jail and a fine.


Some people have connections. These people work within another law. They are privy to invisible dealings with the AG's.


TodayOnLine
14 April 2007
Leong Wee Keat
[email protected]

A FORMER senior station inspector was fined $1,500 on Friday after he pleaded guilty to conducting himself in ways prejudicial to the good order and discipline of the police force.

Ko Poh Koon, a 27-year veteran of the force, accepted $2,000 worth of free dinner and entertainment from businessmen Albert Teo and Joseph Teo while he was attached to the Secret Societies Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department.

He was treated to dinner and nightclub entertainment between May and June 2004 for the "police protection" of the Teos' Nigerian business associates, and for help and information on police matters.

Originally charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Ko, 49, was given a reprieve when the charges were reduced, falling within the Police Force Act.

Under the latter, the maximum penalty he faced for each charge was a fine not exceeding $500 or three months' jail or both.

In Ko's mitigation plea on Friday, lawyer Shashi Nathan argued that Ko "never corruptly accepted any gratification" and never benefited financially. Ko also did not compromise his duties or position as a police officer, nor caused any harm or detriment to police investigators.

Ko had joined the police force in 1976 before he retired in 2003. He was later re-employed by the force, and his services were terminated in January 2005.

 

[Lee Hsien Tau]

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