Allegations of Corruption against Singaporeans or Singaporean Companies

Parliament of Singapore · 17 January 2012

Official Report, 17 January 2012, Vol 88, Issue 11 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)

Mr Pritam Singh asked the Prime Minister if our enforcement agencies have investigated allegations of corruption against Singaporeans or Singaporean companies who are not charged or convicted in foreign jurisdictions and if so, under what circumstances.

Mr Lee Hsien Loong: Since the 1990s, there have been several cases involving Singapore Citizens committing corruption offences overseas and prosecuted in Singapore.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) may conduct investigations into Singapore Citizens who have committed offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) in any place, even if it is outside Singapore. This is provided for under Section 37(1) of the PCA.

However, any investigation in a foreign state requires the latter's permission and co-operation. Hence, the approach taken has to be practical and is based on the premise that the state where the act of corruption takes place is usually best placed to investigate and deal with the matter. If there is a Singapore nexus, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) would consider any mutual legal assistance requested by that foreign state and CPIB would extend its assistance where appropriate.

Based on the same practical approach, in cases where Singapore is better placed to investigate and deal, we will prosecute in Singapore. Examples of such cases are civil servants in our overseas missions committing corruption offences.