DSTA manager charged under Official Secrets Act for leaking info, including on S$3 million project
Hsu Yee Chern allegedly leaked information about three DSTA projects to a project manager who had dealings with the government agency.
File photo of the State Courts of Singapore. (File photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
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SINGAPORE: A programme manager with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) allegedly leaked information about three projects to another man, including DSTA's S$3 million (US$2.3 million) budget for a renovation project.
Hsu Yee Chern, a 52-year-old Singaporean, was handed four charges under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) on Friday (Sep 13) for communicating information he obtained - due to his position at DSTA - to Tan Kian Meng.
Tan, a 46-year-old Singaporean, was given four mirroring charges for receiving the protected information from Hsu between December 2018 and May 2019.
DSTA is the central procurement agency for the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces.
Tan was a project manager working for a company that had dealings with DSTA at the time, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement.
According to charge sheets, Hsu gave Tan information around Dec 3, 2018 that three bidders had failed in their bids for a project involving additions and alterations to existing toilets in four blocks along Clementi Loop.
Around Mar 12, 2019, Hsu allegedly informed Tan that DSTA's budget for a power upgrading and renovation project for an office building at Stagmont Road was S$3 million.
Around Apr 5, 2019, Hsu allegedly gave Tan information about DSTA's evaluation findings on a company's tender price and tendered cable size for the Stagmont Road project.
Hsu is also accused of giving information to Tan around May 3, 2019 that a construction company was in poor financial health with respect to its tender for a project for addition and alteration works to four blocks along Sungei Gedong Road.
The cases were adjourned for the men to engage counsel. They will be heard again next month.
If convicted under the OSA, the men can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$2,000, or both.
In response to CNA queries, a DSTA spokesperson said that the agency takes a "serious view" of any misconduct by its staff.
"Hsu was suspended after DSTA referred the case to CPIB for investigation. As the matter is before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment further."
