Former police officer jailed for disciplinary offences
By Claire Huang | Posted: 26 January 2012 1819 hrs
SINGAPORE: A former police staff sergeant has been sentenced to 10 weeks' jail on Thursday.
37-year-old Idris Makrob faced four counts of disciplinary offence under the Police Force Act, but the prosecution proceeded with two counts.
At the time of the offence, Idris was serving at the Intelligence Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The court heard that in 2006, Idris started to frequent a pub known as Joudan Sing-A-Long at Changi Village Road and became acquainted with the pub's five major shareholders.
Between October 2007 and February 2008, Idris found out that a minor shareholder wanted to sell his stake worth about S$3,000.
Idris took the opportunity to ask two of the five men if he could have a 2.5 per cent share within this stake, valued at S$1,500. The two major shareholders agreed and Idris paid them S$500.
The court was told that Idris did not have to pay the full sum as he was deemed as someone who could provide "assistance" on matters relating to the operations of the pub, which had at that time employed Filipinos without valid work permits.
Under the Act, Idris was under duty to seek permission from the Commissioner of Police to become a shareholder in the pub but he failed to do so. As such, he committed a disciplinary offence and was sentenced to 10 week's jail on each of the two charges.
The district judge ordered him to serve the sentences concurrently.
In his mitigation, Idris expressed remorse and gave an account of how he was on a downward spiral after he was caught.
After his arrest in June 2008, Idris' second son died three weeks after he was born. Idris said his son's death sent him into depression and during this period, he was interdicted from the police force.
Then in February 2011, his marriage ended and his wife obtained custody of their eldest son. Devastated, Idris said he had no place to stay and ran out of money.
He told the court it took almost four years for CPIB to conclude its investigation into his case and during this period, he took time to reflect. Idris said he was unable to withstand the "traumatic and excruciating period" while under investigation.
In sentencing, the district judge said while he took Idris' mitigation into consideration, he said the nature of the offence is serious. He told Idris that as a police officer, he was to have conducted himself in a professional manner, which he failed to do so.
Idris could have been sentenced up to six months' jail, a fine not exceeding S$1,000, or both.
-CNA/ac