2 former Certis security officers admit to obtaining bribes totalling over $4,000
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Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi (left) and Mohamad Aziffi Selamat each pleaded guilty to one count of corruption and an offence under the Official Secrets Act.
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SINGAPORE – Two Certis security officers who were deployed at Jurong Port obtained more than $4,000 in bribes
The bribes were offered so that the two Singaporeans would not take enforcement action against the operator despite knowing that he was smuggling contraband cigarettes through the port.
On Sept 19, Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi and Mohamad Aziffi Selamat each pleaded guilty to one count of corruption and an offence under the Official Secrets Act. They are no longer working for Certis.
Court documents stated that Khairul, 25, and Aziffi, 32, obtained the money from Muhammad Sukaimi Gasali, 34, who was then working for a crane company.
The case involving Sukaimi, who is also a Singaporean, is pending.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen told the court that Aziffi’s case involved $3,450 in bribes and Khairul’s involved $600.
As Certis security officers contracted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Aziffi and Khairul were tasked to take enforcement action against those who attempt to smuggle contraband items into Singapore via the port, among other duties.
Aziffi first met Sukaimi around 2021 while conducting routine vehicle checks as the older man entered the port for work. They later became friends.
According to court documents, Sukaimi told Aziffi that he was smuggling contraband cigarettes through the port, and offered to give money to the latter if he facilitated the operation.
After Aziffi accepted the offer, he shared confidential information about his deployment schedule and operational details with Sukaimi, allowing the contraband cigarettes to pass through security.
The DPP said that he facilitated Sukaimi’s smuggling operations on 35 occasions between June 2021 and June 2022.
Separately, Khairul got to know Sukaimi around early 2023 and went on to commit similar offences.
The prosecutor told the court that Khairul facilitated Sukaimi’s operations on four occasions that year, between March 16 and May 16.
Court documents did not disclose how the offences came to light, but Khairul and Aziffi were arrested in August 2024.
All three men were charged in court a year later, and the two former Certis security officers will be sentenced on Oct 21.
