Jail for seafood firm director who gave bribes worth over $2,500 to 2 FairPrice employees
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SINGAPORE – A man who managed a fish wholesaler befriended two FairPrice employees and gave them bribes
Lim Wei Jian, 33, who was then working at Kiang Huat Sea Products, was sentenced to five weeks’ jail and a fine of $5,000 on Friday. He pleaded guilty to three charges, including two under the Prevention of Corruption Act involving bribes worth $2,210.
Three other charges linked to the remaining $330 were considered during sentencing.
A search with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority reveals that he is a director and shareholder of a firm called Kiang Huat Sea Produce.
He had given the bribes to Lim Kian Kok, then a senior team leader, and Chua Teow Hym, then a storekeeper. Both Lim Kian Kok, 48, and Chua, 61, are no longer working for the supermarket chain.
Lim Kian Kok, who is also known as Andrew, joined FairPrice in 2007 and oversaw its buying operations at Jurong Fishery Port when he became a senior team leader in 2013. He also had the discretion to determine which suppliers to buy seafood from, and how much to buy.
Lim Kian Kok got to know Lim Wei Jian at the fishery port in 2017. The latter threw a birthday party for him in October 2020.
Lim Wei Jian booked entertainment that cost $2,000 in total, including the use of a yacht for a day. He also brought along three bottles of VSOP whiskey.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Pei Wei said: “(He) hoped that by planning this event and paying for these expenses, he would build a good relationship with Andrew, and that the latter would purchase more fish… in the future.”
Chua’s tasks at FairPrice included receiving stocks from suppliers and weighing them to ensure that they matched the quantity ordered. He also had the discretion to reject stocks if they were not fresh.
Lim Wei Jian also befriended Chua at Jurong Fishery Port in 2017.
He bought Chua, who is also known as Jimmy, food and drinks valued at about $210 in total on at least 60 occasions in 2021.
Lim Wei Jian did so to induce Chua into advancing his firm’s business interest with FairPrice.
“Specifically, he hoped that Jimmy would accept surplus fish from (the firm),” said the DPP.
On Oct 27, 2020, a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officer arrested Lim Wei Jian for his offence involving Lim Kian Kok.
In or around January 2021, Lim Wei Jian told Chua that he was under a CPIB probe and that they should delete the WhatsApp messages they had exchanged to prevent the agency from detecting their dealings. They then deleted the incriminating messages.
Lim Wei Jian’s bail was set at $10,000 on Friday, and he was ordered to surrender himself at the State Courts next Thursday to begin serving his sentence.
The two former FairPrice staff were dealt with in court earlier in 2023 .
Chua was sentenced to five weeks’ jail and a fine of $2,000 in May. He was also ordered to pay a penalty of $3,820.
