"Distinct shift" in statements questioned in sex—for—contracts case

SINGAPORE: What fuelled the "distinct shift" in the statements by the prosecution’s key witness, Ms Cecilia Sue Siew Nang, to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB)?

This was a key issue raised in court on Wednesday on the seventh day of the 18—day trial of former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chief, Ng Boon Gay.

Ng, 46, is accused of obtaining oral sex from 36—year—old Ms Sue in 2011 on four occasions, in exchange for helping to further the business interests of two IT firms she worked for.

Ms Sue had told the CPIB in her initial statements that she had a consensual sexual relationship with Ng.

But the court heard that Ms Sue changed the nature of her relationship from consensual to "forced" from her fifth statement onwards. There were 10 statements.

This prompted Ng’s defence lawyer, Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng, to question CPIB Deputy Director Teng Khee Fatt on why he accepted the statements that were taken later, instead of the ones made earlier.

Mr Teng replied that the statements were provided by Ms Sue.

Reading notes made by Mr Teng, Mr Tan said Ms Sue changed her statements as she wanted to save her marriage.

But Mr Teng explained that the relationship might not have been consensual from the start.

The defence then pointed out that on the day Ms Sue changed her position, she had raised concerns that her husband would not be happy if her relationship with Ng was made public.

Senior Counsel Tan also cast doubts on the way the investigation was handled.

At one point, he said "CPIB was bent on moving (Ng’s) charges" but had to withdraw the allegations after the prosecution asked if he was casting doubt on the integrity of the organisation.

Senior Counsel Tan accused Mr Teng of influencing Ms Sue to say she broke up with Ng so as to "make good the charges".

But the defence withdrew the allegations after prosecution asked if he was casting doubt on the integrity of CPIB and demanded an apology.

At this point, the District Judge questioned the relevance in casting these doubts.

Prosecution will continue its re—examination of Mr Teng on Thursday.

Mr Teng was the second person to take the stand on Wednesday.

Earlier, Mr Koh Hong Eng, a senior director at Oracle Corporation, told the court how Ms Sue was actively pursuing CNB and the Ministry of Home Affairs as clients.

Mr Koh said it was normal to do so in the IT industry.

He also said Ms Sue was doing her job by actively pursuing Ng, who was a potential client.

A 54—page extract of Mr Koh and Ms Sue’s correspondence was submitted in court.

Referring to the extracts, Mr Koh told the court it was common for him and Ms Sue to message each other until three in the morning.

He explained that it was due to the nature of the job and that he would be communicating with other sales representatives too, not just Ms Sue.

The public gallery was relatively packed but the absence of key prosecution witness Ms Sue meant that not as many members of the public turned up in court.

— CNA/xq