CPIB officer accused of fraud allegedly started siphoning funds from agency in 2008

Edwin Yeo Seow Hiong, who is facing a string of fraud charges in court, was the head of field research and technical support at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) when the offences were committed.

Charged in court on Wednesday for misappropriating at least $1.7 million from the anti-graft agency, Yeo was alleged to have began siphoning CPIB funds from 2008, starting with a relatively small amount of $1,200.

He faces 21 charges in total; eight for criminal breach of trust as a public servant, one count of forging a receipt for a $370,755 payment by the bureau and 12 counts of using the proceeds of his crimes for gambling at the casino at Marina Bay Sands.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in a statement on Wednesday, said that the case was uncovered in September last year.

"As the accused was a CPIB officer and the alleged financial impropriety could have amounted to a criminal offence, the matter was reported to the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force, which carried out the investigation. This was to ensure an impartial and thorough investigation." said the PMO. "The Prime Minister appointed an independent review panel to look at how this case happened, and to strengthen the financial procedures and audit system in CPIB to prevent a recurrence. The recommendations of the panel are being implemented"

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