Ex-manager jailed for graft

He also stole property from his former wife

AMANWHO gave bribes to a public servant and stole S$208,700 (RM500,880) worth of property from his former wife was jailed a total of four years.

Allen Chew Wee Kiang, 39, had admitted to six of 12 charges of corruption; theft of property from his former wife, Lee Siew Leng, 35, at her Bishan flat; and cheating a bank teller of S$90,000 (RM216,000).

He was charged in 2010 for the offences but later jumped bail in August the same year.

A district court heard that Chew, who was re-arrested last November, was the general manager of two companies in the business of providing lodging for foreign workers housed in Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) properties in Tuas and Jurong.

In July 2007, he got to know then JTC assistant property executive Marzuki Ahmad, when the latter inspected the dormitories and found infringements such as overcrowding.

Subsequently, Marzuki asked for money from Chew in return for “looking after” him.

In January 2008, Chew gave a loan of S$20,000 (RM48,000) to Marzuki to provide him with tip-offs of impending inspections, and to be more lenient in his inspections. When Marzuki asked for a further loan of S$5,000 (RM12,000), Chew suggested giving him S$1,000 (RM2,400) every month.

In the property offence, the court heard that Chew broke into his ex-wife’s flat and stole from two safes, one of which belonged to Lee’s elder brother, Lee Chin Chye, 38, on Nov 19, 2009.

He took a cash cheque of S$90,000 and encashed it at the Great World City branch of DBS Bank. When asked for his identification, he presented Lee’s stolen passport.

He left for Malaysia that evening and disposed of all the items there. — The Straits Times/asia News Network