A HAWKER who had a personal grudge against a National Environment Agency (NEA) officer and gave misleading information that he had been corrupt was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Wednesday.

Ho Cheng Lay, 56, was allowed to defer sentence until Jan 29. He admitted to knowingly give misleading information in a written statement to a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer on Aug 14, 2007.

He claimed that while hawkers at Marsiling Lane were preparing to order hats and aprons, Mr Lim stopped them and told him he could get them free from Carlsberg. He went on to say that Mr Lim told him 'not to tell his boss about this arrangement.'

Deputy Public Prosecutor David Low said all hawkers had to wear aprons and hats for health and hygienic reasons since the Sars outbreak in 2003.

Hawkers could buy them or get companies to sponsor the items, subject to NEA's approval.

When Ho, then the hawker representative for Marsiling Lane food centre, told Mr Lim of the difficulties in buying aprons and hats, Mr Lim suggested that the drink stall owners approach companies such as Tiger Beer, Heineken and Carlsberg to sponsor the items.

Ho later told Mr Lim that Carlsberg was only willing to sponsor 150 aprons and hats for the entire hawker centre which were not enough. He asked Mr Lim to speak to Carlsberg.

After the officer had relayed the reqeust to Carlsberg, the hawkers managed to get double the number of aprons and hats.

On Aug 14, 2007, Ho went to the CPIB and lodged a complaint against Mr Lim.

The DPP said investigation showed Ho's allegations against Mr Lim were not borne out. Ho had a personal grudge against Mr Lim. He felt that Mr Lim had previousy humiliated him in public regarding Ho's divorce.

Three other similar charges were considered. Ho could have been fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to one year.