ICA officer who obtained sexual favours charged in court
Chin Peng Sum, 51, faces charges for corruption, as well as offences relating to the Official Secrets Act and the obstruction of justice.
SINGAPORE — A staff sergeant with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) was charged in court on Thursday (Sept 27) with allegedly obtaining sexual favours from two women in return for the extension of their immigration passes.
Chin Peng Sum, 51, also faces other charges for offences relating to the Official Secrets Act and the obstruction of justice.
In total, Chin faces 33 charges for offences committed last year.
He is alleged to have corruptly accepted sexual favours from Ms Zhu Shirong twice last year, in return for the extension of her Special Pass.
A Special Pass is issued to people enquiring if they are entitled to an entry permit or are prohibited immigrants, or for other special reasons.
Chin is also believed to have done the same with another woman named Wang Chenghong on two occasions last year.
It is not known how Chin knew the two women.
In addition, on May 31 last year while investigations were ongoing, Chin allegedly instigated Ms Wang and one Tang Yuanyuan to delete “incriminatory SMS text messages” exchanged between him and the women.
On that same day, he deleted 37 text messages between Ms Zhu and him.
Chin also faces 13 charges under the Official Secrets Act. Between February and May last year, he is said to have relayed information of an impending raid by enforcement agencies to Ms Wang, Ms Tang, Ms Zhu, and an unidentified person named “Yan Yan”.
For relaying the unauthorised information to the women to prevent their apprehension for vice-related and/or immigration offences, Chin was also charged with obstructing the course of justice.
When contacted, the ICA said it reported Chin to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau following its internal checks and investigations, and he has been interdicted from service since Jun 15 last year. It declined to comment further as the case is before the Court.
The ICA added: "ICA takes a serious view of errant officers. ICA officers are expected to discharge their duties professionally and maintain a high standard of integrity. Officers who break the law will be dealt with, in accordance with the law."
For his corruption offences, Chin could be jailed up to five years, and/or fined up to S$100,000, if convicted.
He returns to court on Oct 25.
