Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Why So Long?


In the latest case of financial and criminal wrongdoing by a member of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), a senior officer from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) was charged in court this morning for misappropriating $1.76 million between 2008 and last year.

Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong, 39, was the head of field research and technical support at CPIB when the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) caught wind of his gambling activities in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino. Mr. Yeo was then suspended his duties at the CPIB amid an investigation into his suspected financial wrongdoings.

Once the news broke this morning, the Singapore government launch in damage control mode. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has appointed an independent review panel to look at the possible lapses into the agency's audit system and financial procedures, while Deputy PM Teo Chee Hean (who is also the minister in charge of the Civil Service) called the case "particularly serious".

I also think this case is very serious. I think it’s very serious because it took 10 months before Singaporeans knew about this case and that is way too long. Mr. Yeo was suspended his duties at the CPIB in Sep 2012 and only now, July 2013, do we know about this. I understand this case is embarrassing for the SPF but surely they know that it's just a matter of time before Singaporeans know about the case! The SPF should have let Singaporeans know about this case way before it got into the courts. Why did it take 10 months before Singaporeans know about it? 

Clearly it is in the public interest to let Singaporeans know that a senior officer in the CPIB has been stealing money from the CPIB for the past 4 years right? That shouldn't even be a question. Singaporeans deserved better than to be kept in the dark. 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are right to point such lapses out. Year after year the Auditor General reveal these lapses. The powers that be will say they will rectify them.This officer has been at it for 4 years. He frequents the casinos and he is from the CPIB.What the hell is going on in the administration. The public has the right to demand accountability.And don't look for scapegoats amongst the junior ranks.

Anonymous said...

At least must wait until after Punggol election and Population White Paper mah!

Anonymous said...

Same with PAP MPs. Sinkies only get to know their wrong doings when they are charged, usually when the election is over and done with.

Anonymous said...

The CPIB do not report to the SPF but the PMO if I am not wrong.

Ghost said...

I think its more than a case of finding people to be accountable. The main thing is that Singaporeans should not have to wait 10 months to find out about this. The officer is a senior officer from the CPIB so the Singapore government should really have let people know about this far earlier than this. Holding info for so long does nothing but makes them look bad.