SINGAPORE – A Singapore Prison Service (SPS) administration officer was at a work release centre when he allegedly took $406 in cash belonging to an inmate and later lied to a police officer that he had found the money.

On Tuesday, Mohamed Rahadian Mohamed Kassim, 48, was charged in court with one count each of criminal breach of trust, perverting the course of justice, and giving false information to a policeman.

SPS told The Straits Times in a statement on Tuesday evening that he was suspended on Jan 13, 2023.

Rahadian is accused of taking the inmate’s money in a property processing room at Institution S2 in Upper Changi Road North at around 10am on Nov 18, 2022.

Three days later, Rahadian was in the same room when he allegedly perverted the course of justice by placing the $406 between some polymer bags. It was not disclosed why he purportedly did so.

Court documents also did not disclose what happened next, but he spoke to a police inspector in a Jalan Mata Ayer condominium unit near Sembawang Road at around 4pm on Dec 30, 2022.

Rahadian is said to have lied to the officer, claiming that he had found the $406 in a pocket of his trousers while ironing it, and handed the sum to the officer. According to court documents, the police officer then spent additional time and resources looking into the matter.

Rahadian’s case will be mentioned again in court on Oct 25.

In its statement, SPS said it takes a serious view of any misconduct by its officers, adding: “All prison officers are expected to uphold exemplary standards of integrity, discipline and personal conduct. All cases of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated, and dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”

If convicted of criminal breach of trust by a public servant, an offender can be either be jailed for life or receive up to 20 years’ jail and be fined.

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