Jail for ex-DSTA employee who shared confidential information with project bidder

An employee of the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) committed offences under the Official Secrets Act when he shared confidential information with an electrical firm project manager.

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

At the time of the offences, Hsu Yee Chern, 52, was a project manager at DSTA – a statutory board under the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

Among other things, he had shared with Tan Kian Meng from John Holland Electrical & Service (JHES) information linked to the budget of a DSTA-managed project, which JHES later tendered for.

In the end, DSTA did not award the project to the company. Hsu, who has since resigned from the agency, was sentenced to four weeks' jail on July 2.

He had pleaded guilty to two charges under the Act, while the case involving Tan, 47, is pending.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ronnie Ang told the court that DSTA's tasks included managing the design, development and maintenance of defence infrastructure for Mindef.

DSTA was also responsible for the procurement process involving external vendors' contracts. This included sourcing for vendors and evaluating their bids.

As a DSTA employee, Hsu was involved in evaluating bids or tenders from vendors such as JHES, which specialises in generator and electricity supply installation and maintenance, said the DPP.

Hsu and Tan first got to know each other in 2014 when JHES was working on a construction project for DSTA at Pulau Tekong.

At Tan's invitation, the two men continued to meet each other for meals and drinks after the project was completed in 2015, the court heard.