13 motor vehicle traders accused of bid—rigging

SINGAPORE: The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has issued a Proposed Infringement Decision (PID) against 13 motor vehicle traders.

The traders are alleged to have engaged in an anti—competitive agreement to suppress bids at public auctions of motor vehicles.

CCS said the infringing conduct involves bid—rigging where the parties involved agreed to suppress bids at these auctions. The objective of bid—rigging was to prevent, restrict or distort competition. This is a breach of the Competition Act.

The PID is a written notice setting out the basis for CCS’ decision.

It gives the parties concerned an opportunity to submit their arguments to CCS, and provide any other information for consideration, before CCS finalises its decision on whether there has been an infringement.

The traders have until 18 October to make such representations.

The traders are:

1. Pang’s Motor Trading

2. Auto & Carriage Engineering

3. Gold Sun Motor Vehicle Charter & Rental

4. Hup Lee Second Hand Auto Parts

5. Kang San Trading Company

6. Kiat Lee Scrap Vehicle Centre Pte Ltd

7. Kiat Lee Machinery Pte Ltd

8. Minsheng Agencies

9. PKS Scrap Vehicle Centre

10. Seng Guan Auto Parts

11. Seng Hup Huat Second Hand Auto Parts

12. Tim Bock Enterprise

13. Yong Soon Heng Auto Parts

— CNA/ck