Two charged with bribing workplace safety enforcer

SINGAPORE: Two men, who tried to bribe others to cut corners when they had to enforce workplace safety rules, were charged in court on Tuesday.

David Rowell Foo, 59, faces two corruption charges while Chan Kwai Kwok, 57, faces one count.

Both men are accused of attempting to bribe an assessor, Mr Mohammad Sadli Ghorsnain.

At the time of the offence, Mr Sadli was in charge of enforcing workplace safety regulations for a Radiation Delay Tank System project.

In 2009, Chan, who owns Program Engineering Pte Ltd, was engaged by Mr Ganendra Ariyathavaratnam for the project.

Chan then roped in Success Construction Pte Ltd, where Foo was employed, to work on the Radiation Delay Tank System project.

The building of the Radiation Delay Tank System was in a confined space.

Some time in September 2009, Mr Sadli stopped Success Construction from working on the Radiation Delay Tank System as some of its workers were not qualified to carry out work in a confined area.

Foo tried to bribe Mr Sadli into letting his workers continue their work, but Mr Sadli rejected the offer.

In mid—September, Foo proposed to Chan to get money from Mr Ganendra to pay Mr Sadli, and Chan agreed.

Foo then made the request to Mr Ganendra, who also rejected the idea.

Chan told the court on Tuesday morning that he intends to plead guilty.

His case will be mentioned again on Sept 11.

Meanwhile, Foo has applied for permission to leave Singapore.

Earlier, he told the court he will be leaving for China on Tuesday night and will only be back later this month.

The court has granted Foo’s application and Foo’s case will be mentioned again on October 2.

— CNA/xq/wm