Former anti-vape investigation officer charged with molesting suspects, seeking sexual favours

SINGAPORE: A former investigation officer looking into e-cigarette offences was charged on Wednesday (Dec 20) for molesting suspects, making insulting comments against them and seeking sexual gratification in exchange for leniency.

Zaini Ibrahim, a 54-year-old Singaporean man, was handed 13 charges comprising a mix of corruption, insulting modesty and outraging of modesty offences.

According to a statement from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Zaini was an investigation officer at the time of the alleged offences. His services were outsourced by the Health Sciences Authority to a company called WSH Experts.

CPIB said Zaini had carried out investigations on vaping offences on behalf of HSA since November 2021.

He is accused of trying to get sexual gratification from a woman he was investigating for e-cigarette offences on Jul 6, 2022.

He allegedly offered leniency in exchange by recommending a notice of composition - referring to an out-of-court fine - instead of court action.

Zaini is also accused of molesting two female suspects on separate occasions at WSH's office at 29 Mayo Street.

On top of this, he allegedly insulted the modesty of two women he was investigating in June and July 2022 either in person at WSH's office, or through WhatsApp messages.

The messages Zaini is accused of sending include one telling a woman that he would "like to see your hair down there" and another asking a woman what her breast size was.

He allegedly asked a woman at the WSH office if she was a virgin and talked about performing sexual acts. He is also accused of making a lewd comment linking a vape device and a woman.

ACCUSED ASKS FOR GAG ORDER

Zaini said he intended to plead guilty but was waiting to see the outcome of his application to the Public Defender's Office for a lawyer.

He said he disputed certain parts of the charges, such as the English translation of a Malay insult he was accused of making.

He also asked for a gag order to be applied on him and his family, saying his son was in the final year of polytechnic so he did not want his identity to be published.

The judge said she imposed a gag order on the victims' names, but not on the accused, as gag orders are meant for the protection of victims.

HSA said on Thursday that it takes a serious view of any wrongful conduct by its own officers as well as officers of outsourced vendors, and will deal with them severely.   

"The investigation officer's services were terminated immediately following the internal investigation," said the authority in response to queries from CNA. 

"As part of the established protocol, the investigation officer must ensure that a female officer is present in the interview room at all times, when a female subject is being interviewed. This is made known to the outsourced service provider."

In this case, HSA said the alleged offences happened in the interview room at the vendor’s premises.

Following this incident, HSA said it has worked with the outsourced vendor to adopt additional safeguards whereby the presence of a female administrative staff member is required in the room at all times when a male investigation officer is interviewing female subjects. 

Zaini will return to court in January.

If convicted of corruption, he could be jailed up to five years, fined up to S$100,000, or both.

For insulting the modesty of a person, he could be jailed for up to a year and fined.

For molestation, he could be jailed for up to three years and fined. He cannot be caned as he is above 50.