SINGAPORE - After nearly four years, two men who had been accused of taking part in a corruption conspiracy involving more than $388,000 can finally walk free following the withdrawal of all charges against them.

Mr Isaac Lai Zhi Yao and Mr Darren Zeng Shao Rong, both 43, were each granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal on April 18. This means they cannot be charged again with the same offences.

On April 23, the Attorney-General’s Chambers told The Straits Times in a statement: “After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the matter, the prosecution directed for stern warnings to be administered to (both men) and thereafter applied for a discharge amounting to an acquittal.”

The court then granted the application on April 18.

Mr Lai and Mr Zeng were among four men who were handed graft charges in November 2020.

The other two are Ong Jiajie, then 32, and Jeremy Yu Jin Han, who was 41 at the time.

Mr Lai and Mr Zeng had been accused of working together with Ong to give bribes to Yu, then a purchasing manager at Lion City Rentals.

This was purportedly done to advance the business interests of Aiden Solutions LLP and D&M Capital with Lion City Rentals in 2016.

At the time, Ong was a manager at car dealership D&M Capital while Mr Zeng was a manager and partner at Aiden Solutions LLP, a similar company.

Meanwhile, Mr Lai oversaw the financial matters of both Aiden and D&M.

In May 2021, Ong was sentenced to six months’ jail, and Yu was ordered to spend 10 months behind bars three months later.