3 former ST Marine senior executives face almost 2,000 additional charges

SINGAPORE - Three former Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine senior executives previously charged with corruption now face a total of 1,744 additional charges, reported Channel NewsAsia.

Appearing in the State Courts on Wednesday (Jan 13), Mok Kim Whang, Tan Mong Seng and Han Yew Kwang allegedly made thousands of false entries in ST Marine petty cash vouchers amounting to more than $6.5 million in entertainment expenses.

Former ST Marine senior vice-president, Mok, 65, was first charged in December 2014 for one count of corruption amounting to $43,721. He allegedly gave the money to Pyo Sei Jin, an agent of Hyundai Engineering and Construction Limited.

Mok faces another 824 charges for making fraudulent entertainment expenses claims amounting to $3,130,172, according to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). He also faces two charges for making $5,000 worth of fraudulent claims on his own, bringing the number of additional charges he faces to 826.

Former ST Marine President of commercial business, Tan Mong Seng, 64, was first charged in July 2015 for one count of corruption amounting to $43,721, similar to the charge faced by Mok. Tan now faces an additional 445 counts of making false entries in petty cash vouchers for entertainment expenses amounting to $1,641,304.25.

Lastly, the third accused, former ST Marine chief operating officer, Han Yew Kwang, 58, was first charged in July 2015 with eight counts of corruption amounting to $790,772.

According to CPIB, Han now faces an additional 473 counts of engaging in a conspiracy to make false entries in ST Marine Petty Cash Vouchers for entertainment expenses amounting to $1,858,597.54.

According to Channel NewsAsia, the trio had their bail amounts increased to $200,000 each on Wednesday. A pre-trial conference has been set for Jan 20.

stephluo@sph.com.sg