Justice V. K. Rajah, who reversed an earlier decision by a lower court to impose a $15,000 fine, stressed that the courts should take a firm, no-nonsense approach towards such corruption attempts.

Any attempt to bribe a police officer will be met with a jail term, he said, adding that should the bribe be accepted, both parties can expect 'uncompromisingly stiff custodial sentences'.

On Oct 31, 2007, Lim Teck Choon, 56, was nabbed by a traffic police officer after he made an illegal U-turn on Woodlands Road and drove against the flow of traffic for 50m.

While waiting for an escort vehicle to take Lim back to the police station, Sergeant Pah Wenxiang tried to diffuse the tense situation by starting a conversation.

Lim told the police officer that he owned a few plantations in Malaysia and knew high-ranking officials.

As the conversation went on, Lim abruptly asked Sgt Pah in Mandarin why he wanted to do this and be enemies.

He continued: 'You should let me go. We can be friends. Next time you come to Malaysia I would take care of you. Still got good things.'

When the sergeant told him it was an offence to bribe a police officer, Lim did not persist.

Lim was charged with offering a bribe to Sgt Pah. He initially contested the charge but pleaded guilty the next day.

Lim was also later fined $2,500 and banned from driving for six years for dangerous driving.

Lim, who has business interests on both sides of the Causeway, is a community leader in the town of Kampong Jawa.