Ex-SLA Staff Jailed
Friday, 4th November 2011
The High Court has sentenced two former Singapore Land Authority (SLA) employees for dipping their hands into SLA Coffer. They "made-off" with over S$12 Millions. Koh Seah Wee, aged 41, an SLA deputy director was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for money laundering and cheating his ex-employer. Koh's subordinate cum accomplice, Christopher Lim Chai Meng, aged 38, was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
At SLA, Koh Seah Wee was the Deputy Director of INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION - TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE. Koh reports to Chim Voon How, SLA Director of INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION. Chim reports to Vincent Hoong, SLA Deputy Chief Executive. Hoong reports to Lam Joon Khoi, SLA Chief Executive.
Justice Tay Yong Kwang when passing the sentence to both men, said that offences involving public funds committed against public institutions have to be dealt with sternly as they undermine good administration. He urged SLA to implement more stringent checks to prevent a repeat of such cheating. The Judge also said that he did not agree with the prosecution's description of Koh and Lim as "highly sophisticated criminals", saying they did not try to camouflage their huge cash reserves. Justice Tay called Koh's purchase super fast Lamborghini car and Lim's purchase of Ferrari, an "egoistic acts". And that both were carelessly inviting questions about their new-found wealth and were therefore hardly "sophisticated money launderers". Thereafter, he set the two off straight to Jail. According to sources, the two will not be appealing to their jail sentences.
He he he...
Koh Seah Wee - Inmate #4058 - Photo Credit: Flickr.
BTW: 4058 was 1st Prize in SINGAPORE POOLS 4D Draw Dated 31-March-1991 (Sun) Draw Number 506.
For Koh: For each of the 46 cheating charges, Koh got 4 years imprisonment; For each of the 9 money laundering charges, Koh got 3 years imprisonment The imprisonment terms in respect of cheating charges number 1, 44, 185 and 189 and money laundering charges number 238 and 241 are to run consecutively with effect from 23 June 2010 (date of arrest), making a total imprisonment term of 22 years.
For Lim: For each of the 41 cheating charges, Lim got 4 years imprisonment; , For each of the 8 money laundering charges, Lim got 3 years imprisonment. The imprisonment terms in respect of cheating charges number 44, 189 and 264 and money laundering charge number 253 are to run consecutively with effect from 6 October 2010 (date of remand by district court), making a total imprisonment term of 15 years.