SINGAPORE: A director- general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) is set to plead guilty to charges over his use of diplomatic bags , for boxes of Panadol and luxury watches.
Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, 45, indicated at a further mention of his case on Thursday ( Mar 21 ) that is pleading guilty.
This was the final day for the phase 1 plead guilty sign, which gives an accused person a discount on their sentencing if they admit guilt.
Oh is accused of lying to the MFA, aiding in this fraud, and giving false information to a common servant.
He reportedly kept from MFA that a bundle containing Panadol boxes that had been delivered to Beijing from Singapore in December 2022 was intended for a close friend of his.
Additionally, he is accused of instigating an MFA partner to use the political carrier service to send a bundle containing labeled pieces from China to Singapore in January 2023.
He allegedly lied to a deputy minister at MFA that quarter, claiming that the labelled watches in the above item belonged to his parents.
According to judge data, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy- Shanaz’s criminal plea hearing for Oh was scheduled for April 26.
Oh returned to Singapore from Tokyo after accepting the guilty plea evidence. He was given permission to leave the country by the judge in January.
Mr. Shashi Nathan and Withers KhattarWong’s Harjeet Kaur represent Oh.
MFA had previously stated that Oh has been on no-pay left while the examinations are pending.
Political bags are used to send files or items for standard use, according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Under the agreement, political bags may get opened or detained. The bags must “bear visible external marks of their character” ( see below ).  ,
If found guilty of cheating, Oh may remain jailed for up to three years, fined, or both. He may also be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both if he is convicted of lying to a common servant.  ,