SINGAPORE — An Assistant Director in the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was today (July 24) charged with 21 counts of criminal breach of trust involving S$1.7 million — the largest amount of money involved in a corruption case by a CPIB official.
Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong, 39, an assistant director in field research who worked at the bureau for 15 years, asked for eight to 10 weeks to prepare representations and mitigation for himself and “settle his family problems” as he was only handed the charges yesterday.
He also said that he has no intention of engaging legal counsel and asked for his bail of S$500,000 to be lowered as he posed a “no-flight” risk.
If he is unable to raise the bail, Yeo will have to wait till this Friday when it will be reviewed. He is currently in custody.
Eight of the 21 charges Yeo is facing are for misappropriation. He had used the money to fuel his gambling habits between 2008 and 2009. Of the money involved, only S$67,000 was recovered.
The case will be mentioned on Aug 21.