Director bribed dorm operator for catering contract to feed foreign workers during COVID-19 circuit breaker

SINGAPORE: A” circle break” was installed to prevent infection when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Singapore in full force in 2020, resulting in the isolation of foreign workers in dorms.

While the Ministry of Manpower ( MOM ) initially provided food for the employees in a dorm in Punggol run by S11 Granuity Management( S11 ), MOM announced to s11 by July 2020 that it would stop doing so.

However, when S11 started looking for its own chefs, the transactions became tainted and agreements were exchanged for cash.

Dhanu Shri Restaurant & amp, Catering’s director was given a one-week prison term this month for conspiring with one of his employees to bribe S11 employees in order to further his catering business interests.

Muhammad Riyas Alaadin entered a guilty plea to one matter under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Saturday, October 14, and he also admitted guilt to another charge that was taken into account.

Court records show that S11 ran numerous hostels in Singapore, including Punggol Dormitory, and accommodated foreign employees.

The hall was” locked down” starting in April 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the ruling.

S11 assembled a crisis management team, which included co-accused Rishibaraj Mohan, the bedroom manager, and Duraisamy Jaganathan, an assistant in dormitory isolation, to make sure everything ran smoothly during the pandemic.

S11 tried using a coordinating agent when MOM told him it would prevent feeding the Punggol hostel residents, but the hired caterers were unable to handle the volume of food.

S11’s business creation director ultimately made the decision to hire additional outside chefs starting in July 2020.

FOR CATERERS, S11 Individual LOOKS

Rishi posted on Facebook and Instagram looking for chefs. Saifulislam Abdul Ghani, a sales rep for Riyaas, was aware of the position and knew Rishi.

In response to his question about the catering opportunity, he offered to pay Rishi S$ 300 ( US$ 220 ) to S$ 400 per month in exchange for his assistance in securing a catering contract for the dorm.

Instead, Rishi requested a portion of Saiful’s fee from the food items.

Saiful and Riyaas talked about this demand. Riyaas was aware that obtaining the contract would benefit his company and that, should Rishi never receive a portion of Saiful’s commission, he does not.

Saiful’s committee was S$ 10 per meal item, but Riyaas suggested that he lie and claim it was only South$ 5 per item.

They may obtain the lease in this manner, with Rishi receiving a smaller portion of Saiful’s fee.

In the end, both parties came to an agreement that Saiful would pay Rishi 40 % of his alleged commission, or S$ 2 per meal deal, in exchange for the deal with S11.

Later, S11 gave Dhanu Shri the food contract. Riyaas paid Saiful his full payment at S$ 10 per meal package.

Saiful transferred S$ 746 to Rishi in August 2020.

However, due to a number of instances of late sales and spoiled meals, S11 terminated the contract with Dhanu Shri.

Rishi admitted guilt to his position and was sentenced to 10 days in jail with an S$ 746 fine.

Saiful entered a similar guilty plea and was imprisoned for 16 weeks.

While defense attorney Riyach Hussain requested a great fine of South$ 18, 000 to S$ 20, 000 instead of the prosecution’s request for Rieyaas’ brief jail sentence.

He claimed that because of his very limited role — the bribe was started by Saiful and his involvement only came after discussions between Rishi and him had been completed — his client did not deserve to serve a prison sentence.

Saiful was merely a sales rep, according to the judge, who claimed that Riyaas was the conductor of Dhanu Shri, so it was obvious that Saifful followed his instructions.

The judge claimed that he was not the little person that Mr. Riyach had portrayed him to be.

Riyaas is currently on bail while appealing his word, which he will do.