Ng Boon Gay and Peter Lim

In January 2012, two senior civil servants were arrested under graft charges. Former head of the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Peter Lim Sin Pang, was arrested on 19 December 2011, while Central Narcotics Bureau chief, Ng Boon Gay, was taken in for questioning on 4 January 2012. Both men were arrested in connection with the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to an IT contract, and in late January 2012, it was announced that both men are also facing disciplinary action by the Public Service Commission, which oversees the conduct of civil servants. After being interdicted, a step only taken when an individual “faces serious offences for which 'criminal proceedings or proceedings for his dismissal or reduction in rank are being contemplated'”, the case provoked comment from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who promised to punish both men if they are guilty of misconduct.

The CPIB’s silence on this investigation came under the scrutiny of a number of MPs during a parliamentary sitting in February 2012. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Teo Chee Hean then defended the CPIB, stating that any announcement on the outcome of the probe would have been premature and may have compromised the investigation. He also assured concerned MPs that all the findings of the investigation would be publicly reported once they had been finalised.

Peter Lim Sin Pang was eventually dismissed from service formally in August 2013 and found guilty while Ng Boon Gay retired after being acquitted.