HDB manager, construction firm director accused of corruption get discharge amounting to acquittal

A senior employee with the Housing Board and the director of a construction company who were accused of corruption have each been granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal.

This means that Mr Tan Siam Chua, 61, an HDB senior estate manager, and Mr Liong Ah Chye, 62, the director of Liong Construction, cannot be charged again with the same offence.

On Sept 16, the day the trials for both men were slated to start, the prosecution applied to withdraw the charges against them.

In September 2023, Mr Tan was handed one charge of abetting corrupt transactions with agents.

Mr Liong was charged with one count of corrupt transactions with agents. He was accused of giving a false quotation from his company, through one of his employees, to an HDB senior estate manager, upon instigation from Mr Tan.

In a statement on Sept 17, a spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Chambers said: “After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the matter, the prosecution directed that a stern warning be administered to both Liong and Tan, and thereafter applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal for both men.”

The spokesman said that “in directing that a stern warning be administered, the prosecution took into account that although the offences were disclosed on the evidence, HDB ultimately did not take the quotation into consideration”.

In response to ST’s queries on Sept 16, HDB said: “Following the court’s judgment today to grant Mr Tan a discharge amounting to an acquittal, HDB will be reviewing Mr Tan’s employment status accordingly. We are in touch with Mr Tan and relevant parties.”

Speaking to ST after the hearing, Mr Tan said: “I’m happy my name has been cleared. It is a relief for me and my family.”

Mr Tan, who has been suspended from service at HDB since he was charged a year ago, added that it had been taxing for him, his wife and their two sons during this period. He said: “There were many sleepless nights, especially because I knew I had done nothing wrong.”

His lawyer, Mr Kenneth Au-Yong from law firm Ramdas & Wong, said the prosecution informed him and his client around two weeks ago that they had planned on withdrawing the charge.

Mr Au-Yong said: “Now that my client has been cleared, I think HDB should make the first move to contact him and reinstate his position with them.”

In a statement released through his lawyers, Mr Liong said: “The acquittal has vindicated my decision to contest the charges from the very start. This is because my conscience has always been clear that I have not done any wrong and have never issued any false quotation.”

Mr Liong, who was represented by lawyers Tang Shangwei and Dorcas Ong from WongPartnership, said that with the court proceedings behind him, he can now focus on his business.

He added: “The past year has been difficult, and I am thankful for my family, business partners, employees and lawyers, who stood by me and my company during this time.”

Source: Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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