Former SJI facilities manager jailed for taking $67k in bribes

He would get vendors to mark up their quotations and pay him the excess

- Nadine Chua

For more than four years, a facilities manager at St Joseph's Institution (SJI) received more than $67,000 in bribes from vendors engaged to carry out various projects at the school.

He admitted doing so as he needed money to pay mounting personal debts and family expenses.

On Oct 30, Ng Cher Him, 58, was sentenced to 15 months and four weeks in jail after pleading guilty to four charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, including corruptly accepting gratification to further business interests. He was also handed a penalty of $7,500.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Maximilian Chew said Ng's job meant he had a substantial degree of influence in the procurement process for facilities-related goods and services in SJI.

His modus operandi for the offences involved his getting the vendors to mark up their quotations submitted to SJI for the jobs and projects, with these markups subsequently paid to him.