CBT trial of ex-STTA president begins; 14 prosecution witnesses expected to testify

The trial of two former Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) officials, accused of misappropriating $8,400 of funds, started on Tuesday.

Former STTA president Choo Wee Khiang, faces one count of criminal breach of trust (CBT) as an agent, while the association's former high-performance manager Koh Li Ping faces one count of abetting Choo in the offence.

Choo had stepped down from the STTA leadership in 2008. He was also a former MP for Jalan Besar GRC.

The prosecution told the court in its opening statement that Choo and Koh had authorised payment of $8,400 worth of STTA funds in 2005, to one of their assistant coaches, Luo Jie for coaching at Fuhua Secondary School.

This moonlighting activity ran contrary to the coach's employment terms, and hence he was not entitled to receive the sum.

This first phase of the trial is expected to run for three days this week. Fourteen prosecution witnesses are expected to testify over the course of the entire hearing.

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