Ex-GM who awarded $6m deal to firm linked to wife jailed

He was with Heineken Asia Pacific Export when he abused his position to give contract

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

Loh Yew Hui was the general manager of Heineken Asia Pacific Export (Hape), which deals with alcoholic drinks, when he abused his position to award a contract worth more than $6 million to a firm linked to his wife.

The 55-year-old was sentenced to two years and six months’ jail on July 18. He had pleaded guilty to one count of cheating and two counts of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct. Eight other charges were considered during sentencing.

Loh, who is no longer working for Hape, knew that awarding a contract to Pines Impex – which was then linked to his wife Hazel Neo Peh Hoon, 52 – would violate Hape’s conflict of interest policy.

Loh then concealed Ms Neo’s interest in Pines from Hape and represented to his superiors that one Chan Poh Kim, 66, and/or a Malaysia-based firm called Harrisons Holdings was running Pines’ business.

At the time of the cheating offence, Chan was the managing director of Harrisons, which was in the alcohol distribution business.

The prosecution said that Hape would not have awarded the contract if it had known that Ms Neo was linked to Pines.

Loh gained $2.47 million in personal benefits from cheating.

Deputy public prosecutors David Menon and Jonathan Tan stated in court documents: “Hape suffered harm because (Loh) was sitting on both sides of the negotiating table when he committed Hape to a contract with Pines.