BRIBES TO CISCO ESCORT RIDERS (Prosecution of transport companies)

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam asked the Prime Minister if any decision has been made whether to prosecute the transport companies that gave bribes in the form of money for refreshments to CISCO escort riders.

The Minister of State for Law (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Prime Minister): Sir, when this question was last raised in Parliament on 9th May this year, the Minister for Law responded that a decision would be made when all the cases against the CISCO officers involved have been concluded. Sir, as all the cases have not yet been concluded, it is still premature to make any decision as to whether the transport companies should be prosecuted.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask the Minister of State why is it necessary to wait until all the cases against the escort riders have been completed? Is there or is there not enough evidence now to charge the companies for offering the bribes? Why do we have to wait?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: All the transactions are related because we are talking about 23 companies and about

30 CISCO officers involved. So in order to be fair to all parties concerned, it is prudent to wait till all the cases are concluded before deciding whether or not to charge any giver. In fact, some will still be giving evidence in the remaining cases. In order not to prejudice the remaining cases and, for the sake of justice and fairness, this decision should only be made when all the cases have been concluded.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I tell the Minister of State that I find it difficult to understand his answer. I take it that some of the cases or the majority of the cases against escort riders have been completed. So the evidence must be in the possession of the public prosecutor. Please tell us what is the delay.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: As I have said, these are not separate cases. They may involve different officers. But the transactions are linked because they involve the same companies and, in some cases, several companies gave bribes to different officers, so the charges are also related. So for the sake of fairness, it is better to wait till all the cases have been completed before deciding whether or not to charge any of the givers. Let me assure Mr Jeyaretnam that this consideration will be made. Sir, it is a matter of time.

Mr Jeyaretnam: One final question for the Minister of State. Will he assure the House that the public prosecutor will not adopt double standards when it comes to making a decision to prosecute or not?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: This question does not require a response. The public prosecutor always acts judiciously in the public interest and with fairness to all parties. In deciding whether or not to prosecute cases, he looks at all the evidence and facts and see whether a case can be made out, and he prosecutes in the public interest. I think that is very clear.