SINGAPORE - A construction services company director paid $72,000 in bribes to a senior manager at Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), securing at least six projects worth over $420,000 in all.

In 2017, Ng Thiam Huat, 57, from United Channel Construction & Facility Services (UCC) gave the bribes to Goh Meng Kwee, 50, who is no longer with WRS.

WRS is now known as Mandai Wildlife Group. It manages major animal-related tourist attractions such as the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari.

Ng was sentenced to 10 months’ jail on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to two graft charges.

A search with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority reveals that he is no longer a director at UCC. However, he is a director at another company called United Channel Hub.

Ng was earlier introduced to Goh by Tay Chun Hsiong, 46, who was then a sales manager at construction services company Lantro. The cases involving Tay and Goh are pending.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Eric Hu and Yeow Xuan stated in court documents: “(Due to the offences) third-party contractors were deprived of a fair opportunity to quote for jobs, which they might otherwise have had without the intervention of Goh, who effectively decided which contractors should be invited to quote and thereafter be awarded the jobs.”

Tay introduced Ng to Goh in March 2017 after UCC tried but failed to obtain contracts with WRS.

According to court documents, Tay also told Ng that Goh was a manager at WRS and had “strong connections”. Ng then met Goh for dinner around June 2017.

The DPPs told the court: “At this meeting, Goh offered to help UCC secure construction jobs with the main contractors of WRS in exchange for $50,000 in licensed electrical work (LEW) fees.

“(Ng) was unsure of what the term ‘LEW fees’ referred to but understood that Goh would be helping him to secure jobs with WRS through the payment of these fees.”

On or around June 19, 2017, Goh forwarded an invoice to UCC for the purported “engagement of yearly LEW services” at a sum of $50,000, said the prosecutors.

Ng later authorised the issuance of a cheque for the amount to Goh.

Between July and September 2017, WRS awarded at least three projects worth more than $108,000 to UCC.

This included a purchase order for nearly $70,000 from the Singapore Zoo to UCC for the installation of glass shelves.

Ng met Goh for dinner again in September 2017.

The DPPs said: “At this meeting, Goh informed the accused that he intended to continue to help UCC to secure projects at WRS for the next three years and asked for a further payment of $22,000 as a ‘consultancy fee’.

“The accused and Goh both knew that the sum... was meant for Goh to continue advancing the business interests of UCC with WRS.”

Around Oct 5, 2017, Ng authorised the issuance of a cheque for $22,000 to Goh.

WRS then awarded UCC with at least three more projects worth nearly $314,000 in total between November and December 2017.

Among other things, the Singapore Zoo awarded a purchase order worth $163,000 to UCC for wall renewal and repair works.

Court documents did not disclose how the offences came to light but Ng, Goh and Tay were later charged with graft in March 2022.

Ng’s bail was set at $75,000 on Thursday, and he is expected to surrender himself at the State Courts on April 27 to begin serving his sentence.