DSTA manager charged under Official Secrets Act for leaking info, including on S$3 million project

SINGAPORE: A programme manager with the Defence Science and Technology Agency ( DSTA ) allegedly leaked information about three projects to another man, including DSTA’s S$ 3 million ( US$ 2.3 million ) budget for a renovation project.

Hsu Yee Chern, a 52-year-old Singaporean, was handed four charges under the Official Secrets Act ( OSA ) on Friday ( Sep 13 ) for communicating information he obtained- due to his position at DSTA- to Tan Kian Meng.

Tan, a 46-year-old Singaporean, was given four mimicking charges for receiving the protected knowledge from Hsu between December 2018 and May 2019.

DSTA is the&nbsp, main purchasing agency&nbsp, for the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces.

According to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau ( CPIB ), Tan was a project manager for a business that had contacts with DSTA at the time.

Request sheets indicate that Hsu informed Tan around December 3 that three bidders had submitted unsuccessful bids for a project involving improvements and alterations to existing restrooms in four prevents along Clementi Loop.

Hsu reportedly informed Tan that DSTA’s funds for a power upgrade and construction project for an office tower at Stagmont Road was S$ 3 million.

Hsu reportedly gave Tan info about DSTA’s findings regarding a company’s sweet value and tendered cable length for the Stagmont Road initiative around April 5, 2019.

Hsu is also accused of revealing to Tan on May 3rd that a construction firm had a bad financial health when it submitted a tender for a job to add and alter four slabs along Sungei Gedong Road.

The people were instructed to adjourn the cases so they could hire attorneys. Second month, they will be heard once more.

If convicted under the OSA, the people may be jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$ 2, 000, or both.

CNA has contacted DSTA for more information. &nbsp,