Ex-STTA chief cleared of three remaining corruption charges

Mr Choo Wee Khiang was acquitted last year of criminal breach of trust of $8,400 after a trial. The decision was upheld by the High Court. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
Mr Choo Wee Khiang was acquitted last year of criminal breach of trust of $8,400 after a trial. The decision was upheld by the High Court. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

The former president of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) was granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal on Wednesday on three corruption charges.

The three remaining charges against Mr Choo Wee Khiang, 59, relate to allegations that he accepted cash bribes of $1,500, US$200 and US$400 while he was the STTA chief.

He was acquitted last year of criminal breach of trust of $8,400 after a trial.

The decision was upheld by the High Court.

On Wednesday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Haniza Abnass applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal for the three charges which allegedly occurred between 2003 and 2005.

Mr Choo's lawyer K. Muralidharan Pillai said he was indebted to the DPP for reviewing the case after his client's acquittal was upheld in the High Court.

A spokesman for the Attorney-General's Chambers said the prosecution has considered the circumstances relating to the remaining three charges, including the availability of foreign witnesses.

After careful consideration, the prosecution decided that a stern warning in lieu of prosecution would be appropriate. Mr Choo accepted the stern warning.

A stern warning is administered by the enforcement authorities to an individual when the prosecution has assessed that the latter has committed an offence and that the circumstances are such that the prosecution considers it appropriate to deal with the matter with a stern warning instead of proceedings in court.

If an offender accepts the stern warning administered to him, a record of the stern warning for the offence committed is retained in the enforcement authorities' records.

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