Five Charged in Corruption, Official Secrets, and Customs Offenses

Five individuals were charged on Friday with various offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Official Secrets Act, and the Customs Act. Among those charged were four Certis officers who were contract employees for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority at the time of the alleged offenses. The Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau (CPIB) and Singapore Customs announced the charges.

The four Certis officers are Singaporeans Sri Daniah Abdul Razak, Muhammad Haaziq Karudin, Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi, and Mohamad Aziffi Selamat. Certis confirmed that the four men were deployed as security officers but are no longer employed by the company.

The alleged offenses are connected to interactions with a Singaporean man named Muhammad Sukaimi Gasali, who was also charged. Sukaimi, aged 34, is accused of paying the officers a total of S$7,661 over multiple instances between June 2021 and July 2023 in exchange for avoiding enforcement action at Jurong Port. He is also alleged to have given Daniah S$2,190 for disclosing confidential information about enforcement actions at Tuas Checkpoint between February 2024 and April 2024.

Authorities also stated that Sukaimi allegedly received information from Haaziq and Daniah about enforcement checks at Jurong Port and Tuas Checkpoint, respectively, between March 2022 and April 2024. Furthermore, Sukaimi is accused of receiving information from Khairul and Aziffi about their deployment at Jurong Port on multiple occasions between June 2021 and March 2023.

In addition, Daniah is alleged to have worked with Sukaimi and another individual to import 22 cartons and 470 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. During searches, sixteen packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found at Sukaimi's residence, and nine were found at Daniah's. The total excise duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to approximately S$10,914.

Sukaimi faces multiple charges, including corruption, abetment by engaging in a conspiracy to import uncustomed goods, storing uncustomed goods, dealing with uncustomed goods, and offenses under the Official Secrets Act. Daniah faces charges of corruption, offenses under the Official Secrets Act, abetment by engaging in a conspiracy to import uncustomed goods, and storing uncustomed goods. Haaziq, Khairul, and Aziffi each face charges related to corruption and the Official Secrets Act.

Penalties for these offenses vary. Conviction for corruption can result in a fine of up to S$100,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Penalties for amalgamated offenses can be doubled. Violations under the Official Secrets Act can lead to a fine of up to S$2,000 and imprisonment for up to two years. Those involved in duty-unpaid goods may face fines of up to 40 times the evaded duty and GST, and/or imprisonment for up to six years.