AS AN investigation officer with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Chung Cheong Weng would recommend to his boss to extend the special passes of foreign witnesses, whose presence is required to complete ongoing investigations.

But the chief specialist and checkpoint inspector became the target of an investigation himself when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) received a tip-off that he was on the take.

Chung, 58, was charged in a district court yesterday with receiving sexual favours from Chinese national Li Yanxiu, 36, on five occasions.

Court documents state that in return, he had recommended her special pass be extended.

It is not known why Ms Li was issued a special pass and why she wanted it extended.

The sexual favours were said to have been 'paid' at the Bright Star Hotel in Lorong 20 Geylang between December 2006 and April last year.

Chung also faces a sixth charge of warning Ms Li about the investigation against him and telling her to delete SMS messages exchanged between them.

He also told her to keep mum about their sexual liaison when questioned by CPIB officers.

Chung, suspended from ICA at half pay, was expressionless during yesterday's proceedings. He was accompanied by his wife and his lawyer Christopher Bridges.

His wife posted his bail of $6,000, and Chung's next court appearance will be on Dec 29.

The maximum sentence for corruption is a $100,000 fine and a jail term of five years. For hindering CPIB investigators, the maximum penalty is a $10,000 fine and a one-year jail term.

Chung is the second senior ICA officer to be charged with corruption in the last one month.

On Nov 6, Dong Ching Jit, 54, was charged with taking bribes totalling $140,000 to extend the social visit passes of China and Vietnamese nationals.