Ex-MP Phey faces 28 new charges

Former National Trades Union Congress chairman and MP Phey Yew Kok faced 28 new charges, mostly involving criminal breach of trust, yesterday. This brings the total number of charges he faces to 34.

He was charged with six counts of misusing union funds in Dec 1979. The 81-year-old spent more than three decades on the run after that.

The total amount involved in the charges is now over $450,000. The charges also include fabricating false evidence and absconding while on bail.

Phey, who appeared in court yesterday via video-link from remand for a pre-trial conference, will be represented by senior counsel Chelva Retnam Rajah and partner Chen Chee Yen from Tan Rajah & Cheah.

Mr Chen said they had yet to take instructions from their client, but would see him soon.

Thirty-five years ago, Phey had jumped bail of $100,000, fled by train to Kuala Lumpur and evaded attempts to track him down in Thailand.

He gave himself up at the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok on June 22, and was escorted back to Singapore by Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau officers the following night.

His six earlier charges comprised four for criminal breach of trust involving about $83,000, and two under the Trades Unions Act for allegedly investing $18,000 of trade union money in a private supermarket without ministerial approval. He had pleaded not guilty to these in 1979.

Phey's case will next be heard in court on Sept 3.

oliviaho@sph.com.sg

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