Prosecution cross-examines ex-CNB chief Ng Boon Gay on issue of conflict of interest

Former top cop Ng Boon Gay said he didn't know that the letters "HDS" meant Hitachi Data Systems in his own corruption trial.

The former Central Narcotic Bureau chief said this as he continued to take the stand for a third day in court.

Ng, 46, is accused of forcing former IT sales executive Ms Cecilia Sue to perform oral sex on him, in exchange for allegedly helping to further her employers' business interests.

One of her former employer was Hitachi Data Systems or HDS.

Yesterday, Ng told the court that when he approved a pre-procurement paper, he did not know at that time, that the words "HDS" referred to Hitachi Data Systems.

This morning, lead prosecutor Tan Ken Hwee asked Ng how it was possible for him and Ms Sue to have a three-year long affair and consistent communication that she never once used the term "HDS".

Ng said Ms Sue used the words 'my office'.

Upon further questioning, Ng said Ms Sue never referred to her employer in full as "Hitachi Data Systems" as well.

This prompted DPP Tan to ask what Ms Sue said when she referred to her employer.

Ng said she would say "Hitachi".

DPP Tan said Ng, having seen the term 'HDS' previously, what could it have possibly meant and the witness replied after some thought - "Hard Drive Server?".

DPP Tan pointed out that Ms Sue had sent an email dated 13 May 2011 to Ng and both the acronym of Hitachi, as well as the full name, were included in the contents.

Ng said he only came to know the acronym and full name in May 2011.

This led DPP Tan to say that Ng would have at least suspected that "HDS" meant "Hitachi Data Systems". 

Ng disagreed.

Ng also denied knowing Ms Sue's involvement in the projects that were approved by him. 

The other contention was on the conflict of interest. 

Prosecution is arguing that there was an 'actual' conflict of interest when Ng approved IT contracts that involved a company Ms Sue was working for. 

Ng had said that there was no actual conflict of interest as Ms Sue, who was employed by Hitachi, and the firm was only a sub-vendor. 

But DPP Tan said Ng had had full knowledge by the second tender that Hitachi was involved in the project and hence Ms Sue. 

The prosecution said Ng knew this yet did not excuse himself from the approval process. 

The trial continues.