The former Temasek-backed fish farm Apollo Aquaculture’s former group CEO was charged on Thursday ( 20 February ) with using a bribe to pay off a condominium unit.  ,
Ng Woei Kiat, a 51-year-old Singaporean, was even a part of Apollo Aquaculture Group’s board of directors at the time of the alleged crimes in 2018.  ,
Ng, who appeared in the State Courts, was handed one charge of obtaining a bribe of S$ 450, 000 ( US$ 336, 000 ) from Alan Koh Joon Seong, a director at two engineering companies, Alric Projects and Alric MEP Engineering. This crime is regulated by the Prevention of Corruption Act.  ,
According to a joint press release from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau ( CPIB ) and Singapore Police Force, the gratification allegedly given on August 24, 2018 was intended as an inducement so that Ng wouldn’t “disfavour” the Alric companies in their dealings with Apollo Aquaculture Group.  ,
According to the release, Ng reportedly used the pay to finance a condominium unit’s limited down payment of S$ 471, 000.
The down payment was made for a condo system at 159 Wak Hassan Drive on Aug 27, 2018, according to Ng’s cost plate. This forms the second charge, which is under the , Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes ( Confiscation of Benefits ) Act ( CDSA ).  ,
For his reported position, Koh, a 51-year-old Singaporean, faces one equivalent command under the Prevention of Corruption Act for giving the reward.  ,
Individually, Ng faces seven claims under the Companies Act for failing to consider his interest in related-party deals to Apollo Aquaculture’s board of directors.  ,
Ng was underrepresented, but Koh was represented by attorney Shashi Nathan, who claimed he had been with his buyer throughout his CPIB research and that he was aware of the situation.
He requested an injunction to make statements to the prosecution and indicated that he might use for his client’s relocation to another country at a later time.
Both gentlemen indicated they would be claiming test, with Ng adding that he would be hiring a lawyer, despite the prosecution’s claim that it had a plea deal for them.  ,
Both situations have been moved to March 13.  ,
One of the five subsidiary companies of Apollo Aquaculture Group, one of which was billed as a high-tech gardening solution to address Singapore’s lack of space when it first started operating in 2021, is an eight-storey fish plantation in Lim Chu Kang.  ,
Yet, the organization encountered financial difficulties, and in May of that year, an independent judicial director was appointed to oversee its affairs.
If convicted of fraud, each person may be fined up to S$ 100, 000, or jailed up to five years, or both.
If convicted under the CDSA, Ng may be fined up to S$ 500, 000, or jailed up to 10 years, or both. He faces a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison or a fine of up to S$ 5, 000 if found guilty of the command under the Organizations Act.  ,