DPP: Judge Who Acquitted Duo Copied Defence's Arguments

Former district judge also failed to consider all the evidence, says prosecution in appeal

- Selina Lum

A former district judge who acquitted two men of corruption in a case involving a former Land Transport Authority (LTA) official was accused by the prosecution of copying from the defence's submissions and failing to consider all the evidence.

The prosecution made the allegations on July 22 during an appeal to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon to reconsider the case afresh. The defence argued that the judge had applied his mind in deciding to acquit Mr Pay Teow Heng, 56, and Mr Pek Lian Guan, 59.

Chief Justice Menon will give his decision at a later date.

Mr Pay, a director at construction firm Tiong Seng Contractors, was accused of giving bribes in the form of loans totalling $350,000 to LTA deputy group director Henry Foo Yung Thye in 2017 and 2018.

Mr Pek, the managing director of the firm, was accused of intentionally aiding Mr Pay in giving the bribes to Foo.

In October 2024, the two men were cleared by then District Judge Soh Tze Bian, who found that the incriminating statements the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) had recorded from them were "inaccurate and unreliable".

Mr Soh, who was appointed a district judge on Aug 1, 2008, retired from the Singapore Judicial Service on Jan 17.