SINGAPORE - A former tool installation manager who corruptly tried to solicit a bribe of more than $100,000 from a subcontractor was fined $30,000 on Monday (Nov 21).

Bernard Quek Joo Kwang, 57, was employed by Micron Semiconductor when he tried to get a bribe of $108,072 from Mr Christoph Engel, managing director of Tialoc Singapore, as an inducement to further the business interests of Tialoc. Tialoc is in the business of exhaust installation and was a subcontractor of Micron.

The court heard that some in May 2015, Mr Tan Yue Tze, sales manager of Tialoc, picked up Quek from his office to go for lunch.

While they were driving towards Sembawang area, Mr Tan asked Quek whether there were any upcoming projects. Quek told him that he wanted 5 per cent commission for all Tialoc's existing projects with Micron. Both knew that the value of the existing works at that time was about $2 million.

Mr Tan said he could not give him an answer, but would speak to his boss.

The next day, Mr Engel met Quek at the Micron office. When Mr Engel asked Quek how much he wanted, Quek said 5 per cent of the value of all existing projects.

Mr Engel responded that Tialoc's profit margins were not very high, to which Quek asked for 1 to 2 per cent instead. Mr Engel said he would think about it.

The court heard that the approximate value of the project awarded by Micron to Tialoc was $2.2 million of which 5 per cent would amount to $108,072.

By asking for the commission, Quek intended for Mr Tan and Mr Engel to believe that Tialoc would have a higher chance of securing future projects with Micron.

Quek, who now works in China, could have been fined up to $100,000 and/or jailed for up to five years.