The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau confirmed on Wednesday that the ex-chiefs of the Central Narcotics Bureau(CNB) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were both arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
CNB director Ng Boon Gay was arrested last month while SCDFchief Peter Lim Sin Pang was arrested on 4 Jan this year.
Both men are out on bail now and are assisting in separate investigations, reported Today newspaper.
The news comes the latest twist into what is fast developing into a high-profile investigation of both men.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement that the duo had been suspended for “serious personal misconduct” and that an internal probe had been underway since end December for Ng and earlier this month for Lim.
This was after Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao first reported that Lim had been suspended and Ng questioned by the CPIB earlier on Tuesday.
Although the MHA did not disclose more details about the probe,The New Paper has reported the involvement of a female executive with a company that supplied IT-related products and services to government offices.
The paper reported that the female developed “a close working relationship” with both men, who were “unaware of each other’s dealings with the woman”. The woman is also assisting in the investigation, which was launched following an internal audit.
In a separate statement on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs and Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean underscored that the government takes a serious view of public officers who misconduct themselves.
"Any allegations of misconduct made against public officers will be investigated fully and thoroughly. We will be fair to officers who are the subject of allegations, establish the facts and follow due process, acting in accordance with civil service disciplinary processes and the law. If officers are found to have abused the trust placed in them, we will not hesitate to take firm and decisive action against them," Teo said.
Both former leaders’ duties have been covered by their respective deputies.
Eric Yap Wee Teck, 43, who is currently the senior director of emergency services at SCDF, will be its new commissioner while 49-year-old Ng Ser Song – presently director of the police intelligence department – will assume the post of director at CNB.
Both appointments will be in effect from 1 February to ensure leadership continuity of both organisations, MHA said.
Lim began his career in SCDF in 1987, holding the rank of engineering service officer. He was invited to join the Civil Defence Senior Officer Scheme in 1992 and rose up the ranks to be appointed as head of SCDF in May 2009, taking over the reins from former commissioner James Tan. He was also the first director of the Civil Defence Academy in 1998.
Ng, a former local merit scholarship recipient, first joined the Singapore Police Force in 1991. In his 19-year career with the SPF during which he rose to the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner, he has held amongst others, key appointments as Commander Tanglin Police Division and Director Manpower Department.
He was appointed director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in April 2008 and became director of CNB in January last year.
FROM YAHOO! SINGAPORE-NEWS
*back into the abyss of death*
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