Bro
All wrong. It quite a misconception amongst the general public. Because of its nature of work and their tendency to keep a low profile, no much is known about them.
Firstly their scheme of service is different. They come under PMO for political expediency and overtly to projest an image of neutrality similar to an audit function in a corporate organisation. The only difference is that audit head reports to Board of Directors and required to notify their external auditors. To have a similar approach, CPIB should be reporting to parliament or President but for logistic or general admin to PMO. Even SDP identified this as an issue.
Secondly AG plays a more important role than PMO. Every single of prosecution by CPIB must have the written consent of AG not matter how small. Police, CNB, ICA etc generally do not. Not very powerful nor independent.
Thirdly all investigative, detective and enforcement doctrine comes from the Police. In the past they attended the same 9 mths course for Police Inspectors. But all recruitment for all levels including sr officers has nothing to do with the Police. The practice is to send a Police Officer to head the Department as a secondment. In recent years, to boost quality, the number 2 and 3 come from the Police. Now they only a 4 mths course for senior ofiicers who are recruited. Even Police constable has more intensive Training. The position now is to recruit more and place them on 2 year contract as the attrition rate is high.
Fourthly they are not Police Officers except for those 2 or 3 seconded at top level. They do not have powers of even a police Sgt and even a constable. They are allowed to stray outside PCA if it is linked to corruption but require clearence from AG.
Lastly ISD is mainly staffed by Police transferred from ther regulars and many go in and out. There are some direct Intelligence scheme recruitment for Sr Staff especially scholars.
DIn essence, a CPIB officer both sr and jr have very limited powers and acute focus and that is to look into corruption. Corruption involves from small to big fish and that is the nature of the beast. Just because they investigate a minister, it does not mean they are powerful. A traffic Police Officer fresh out of the academy can summon a minister and they can't get away.
Tell you something else. In the early years CPIB used to take in the main for senior officers grads those from Nanyang uni because their outside opportunities are lesser and they tend not to switch jobs. The job is quite boring.
I really have no idea why you think it is a powerful position or an organisation. The gardeners at the Istana have more power by your logic because old man is dead keen on how the gardens look. He brought in Kiwis and Japanese gardeners and has even interviewed locals to see how good they are. Does not make them powerful. CPIB officer can't even prosecute a Tehgu for taking money from a illegal hawker unless DPP says yes.
F
To: ScroobalJunior or senior officers or heads, all CPIB officers must be seconded or transferred from SPF. They must start as police officers. Polite and clear enough? It's not a matter of importance. It's discretionary powers against higher officers. A suspect errant SPF officer should be investigated by a higher ranking officer only. CPIB NCO can initiate investigtion all the way up to CP and MP. CPIB entry requirement is not fresh out of NS or NUS. Attain police S/Sgt. rank first. There're no media adverts for recruitment. Nobody can apply. They'll call you up if they think you're a possibility. I'm tired of this. If you must be seen and deemed to know more than me, OK, to all whom are concerned, don't believe me, Scroobal knows more than me. Take his version. I'm talking nonsense for fun because I'm quite bored after CNY.To: GoldenDragonCPIB officers though still considered as police officers hold different warrant cards signed by PM.
