Jail for security officer who helped syndicate smuggle contraband

He was meant to stop the bad guys.

- David Sun

Instead, Ahmad Khamis, then a senior security officer with Pico Guards, was corrupted by a syndicate, helping it to smuggle contraband cigarettes into Singapore.

On Jan 3, the 64-year-old was sentenced to 15 weeks' jail and fined $5,000.

He was also ordered to pay a penalty of $4,800, which he had received in bribes on at least 32 occasions over a period of three years.

Ahmad pleaded guilty to four corruption charges and one charge under the Customs Act. Another nine corruption charges and one charge under the Act were taken into consideration for sentencing.

Deployed at Chevron Singapore's Penjuru Terminal in Jalan Buroh, Ahmad's job was to control and monitor those entering and exiting the premises, and to ensure that they did not bring contraband into Singapore.

Some time in September 2019, he uncovered a syndicate smuggling contraband through the terminal after catching one of them trying to get contraband cigarettes past security in a large backpack.