the corrupt practices investigation bureau - cpib.gov.sg annual report 2017.pdf · cpib was also a...

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

MISSION VISION CORE VALUES A leading anti-corruption agency that upholds integrity and good governance towards achieving a corruption-free nation.

Integrity, teamwork and devotion to duty.

To combat corruption through swift and sure, firm but fair action.

THE CORRUPT PRACTICES INVESTIGATION BUREAU

C O N T E N T 04 Introduction

05 Corruption Statistics

12 International Engagement

14 Prevention & Outreach

CPIB ANNUAL REPORT 2017 | 03

INTRODUCTION Since its inception in 1952, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau has been fighting corruption for more than 65 years without fear of favour and through swift and sure, firm but fair action. Today, Singapore is well known for its clean and incorrupt system. The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2017 has ranked Singapore as the 6th least corrupt country in the world. Singapore has also maintained its first-place in the 2017 Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) annual survey on corruption.

At the opening of CPIB’s Corruption Reporting and Heritage Centre (CRHC) in June 2017, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore’s progress depends on keeping the country clean and corruption-free. The courts, the Government and public servants must continue to uphold the highest levels of professionalism and integrity while the public also plays an important role to maintain our social norms to eschew corruption. Our founding leaders left us a clean system, built up over more than half a century. It is a legacy that we should be proud of and do our utmost to protect.

04 | CPIB ANNUAL REPORT 2017

In 2017, CPIB received a total of 778 complaints, a 3.7% drop from the 808 complaints received in 2016. All corruption complaints received by the CPIB are evaluated by the Complaints Evaluation Committee (CEC), and a case is registered for investigation if the information received is pursuable. The number of cases registered for investigation by the CPIB also fell slightly from 118 cases in 2016 to 103 cases in 2017, which is a new all-time low.

CORRUPTION STATISTICS 2017 C o r r u p t i o n S tati s t i c s

The complaints received by the CPIB were both corruption-related and non-corruption-related. For the past three years, about half the complaints received by the CPIB were corruption-related. In 2017, there was a drop of 17.7% in the number of corruption-related complaints to 368, from 447 in 2016. The quality and amount of relevant information of the corruption complaint received determine whether the case can be pursued. The majority of non-pursuable corruption complaints were due to insufficient, vague or unsubstantiated information provided. For non-corruption related complaints, the CPIB will refer them to the relevant government agencies for action, if applicable.


Decrease in number of corruption-related complaints

2017

2016

2015

Complaints Received by CPIB and Cases Registered for Investigation Remain Low

Number of Complaints Received by CPIB vs Number of Cases Registered for Investigation

Corruption and Non-corruption Related Complaints Received by CPIB

C o r r u p t i o n S tati s t i c s

Corruption Complaints Lodged in Person Remain the Most Effective Mod e

Members of the public may report suspected acts of corruption to the CPIB in person, via its phone hotline, email, CPIB website or by mail / fax. In 2017, the largest proportion of complaints received by the CPIB was from the e-Complaint module on its website (42%), an increase of 8% from 34% in 2016. In 2016, most complaints were by mail / fax, comprising 35% of all complaints. However, while the majority of the complaints received in 2017 were via its website and mail / fax (total 74%), these accounted for only 17% of the cases registered for investigation. On the other hand, the 5% of complaints lodged in-person accounted for 23% of the cases registered for investigation. Complaints lodged in-person remain the most effective as the CPIB could obtain more detailed information from the complainants.

The CPIB takes a serious view of all complaints with an undertone of corruption. The public is strongly encouraged to report any suspected acts of corruption to the CPIB. Under the law, a complainant’s identity will be kept confidential, even in court proceedings.


Breakdown of the Number of Complaints by Modes of Complaints

Breakdown of the Number of Complaints which Resulted in Investigation by Modes of Complaints



In 2017, private sector cases continued to form the majority (92%) of all the cases registered for investigation by the CPIB although the number remained low. Of the private sector cases, 10% involved public sector employees rejecting bribes offered by private individuals. The proportion of public sector cases remained low, accounting for 8% of all cases registered for investigation in 2017, as compared to 15% in 2016.

Breakdown of the Cases Registered for Investigations

(46%) (45%)


There is no significant trend in the number of individuals prosecuted for offences investigated by the CPIB over the past three years. In 2017, 141 individuals were charged in court for offences investigated by the CPIB, of which private sector employees made up 94%. The number of private sector individuals prosecuted increased by 32% to 132, as compared to 100 in 2016. However, this increase was mainly due to cases involving multiple accused persons who were charged in court in 2017 and not because of an increase in the number of cases. Public sector employees continued to form the minority of individuals prosecuted for corruption. In 2017, nine public sector employees were prosecuted in court. The number of prosecuted public employees remained low at an average of less than 10% for the last three years.


Public and Private Sector Employees Prosecuted in Court

In terms of punishment for private sector corruption, custodial sentences continued to be meted out to the majority of private individuals for their corruption offences.



Private sector corruption cases generally involved bribery in exchange for business contracts. Over the last four years, the three areas that continued to be of concern to the CPIB were:

Construction (e.g. building construction, addition and alteration works, renovation

Wholesale and retail businesses (e.g. supply of drill pipes, drilling equipment, tubular products, plywood, F&B, kitchen equipment, IT products &

horticulture)

Warehousing, transport and logistics services (e.g. freight forwarding service, removal service, tour bus service, passenger

A high-profile case involving overseas bribery saw Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (“KOM”) investigated for making corrupt payments between 2001 and 2014 to officials of Brazilian state-run oil company, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (“Petrobras”), and other parties, in order to win contracts with Petrobras and/or its related companies. Under a global resolution led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the United States of America and discussed with Brazil and Singapore, a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (“DPA”) was entered into between the US DOJ and KOM. Pursuant to the DPA, KOM will pay a total criminal fine amounting to USD 422,216,980 to the USA, Brazil and Singapore. In Brazil, the Federal Public Ministry entered into a leniency agreement on similar terms to the US DPA. In Singapore, KOM was served a conditional warning by the CPIB in lieu of

prosecution for corruption offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The KOM case highlights that while corruption in Singapore remains low, there is a need for constant vigilance and a firm stance against corrupt practices that extends beyond Singapore’s shores. The CPIB does not condone any form of corrupt practices in Singapore or overseas. We strongly encourage Singapore companies, especially those with businesses overseas, to have a robust anti-corruption framework in place to prevent corrupt practices from occurring. Companies can refer to the CPIB’s PACT: A Practical Anti-Corruption Guide for Businesses in Singapore and/or consider adopting the Singapore Standard ISO 37001 - Anti-Bribery Management Systems, for the implementation of anti-bribery measures in their organisations.

Case Clearance Rate Remains Consistently High

The CPIB’s yearly caseload comprises uncompleted cases from the previous years, new cases registered from complaints received, and further new cases registered in the course of investigations. In 2017, the CPIB handled a total of 431 cases. These comprised 103 new cases registered in the year 2017, 232 new cases registered in the course of investigations and 96 uncompleted cases brought forward from 2016.

The CPIB has consistently achieved a high clearance rate annually, clearing 84% of cases in 2017.

The strong commitment by the CPIB and the Attorney-General’s Chambers to bring corrupt offenders to task has contributed to a consistently high conviction rate for corruption-related offences. The conviction rate for the past three years remained consistently high, above 97%.


High Conviction Rate for CPIB Cases


Number of Cases Handled by CPIB

Conviction Rate Yearly Clearance Rate



2017 CORRUPTION STATISTICS AT A GLANCE

The CPIB continues to participate actively in a number of international and regional platforms which bring together law enforcement counterparts and other relevant stakeholders to tackle the global scourge of corruption. These include the international platforms of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts’ Working Group (ACTWG), and the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG), the International Anti-Corruption Co-ordination Centre (IACCC) and the Economic Crime Agencies Network (ECAN). For regional platforms, these include the Asian Development Bank-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (ADB-OECD) Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific and the South East Asia-Parties Against Corruption (SEA-PAC) meetings between parties of a regional Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Director CPIB delivering the Singapore National Statement at the 7th UNCAC Conference of States Parties

INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT I N T E R N A T I O N A L E N G A G E M E N T


I N T E R N A T I O N A L E N G A G E M E N T

A significant development for the Bureau relating to our international engagements for 2017 was joining the IACCC as a founding member on 5 July 2017, alongside law enforcement agencies from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The intent of the IACCC was to bring about more coordinated efforts amongst relevant law enforcement agencies to fight grand corruption. Grand corruption includes acts of corruption by politically exposed persons that may involve vast quantities of assets, and those that threaten political stability and sustainable development. These can comprise bribery of public officials, embezzlement, abuse of functions or the laundering of the proceeds of crime. Of significance was also our participation at the 7th Session of the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the UNCAC held in Vienna in November 2017, where Director CPIB delivered Singapore’s national statement which outlined our more recent and upcoming anti-corruption efforts.

CPIB was also a regular contributor at regional and international capacity building platforms where we share our anti-corruption experiences and knowledge, and also seek to learn from the best practices of other jurisdictions. For instance, in a joint collaboration with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), two senior CPIB officers served as trainers in an anti-corruption workshop organised in Vienna for participants from Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Ukraine in February 2017.

Our commitment towards building new partnerships and enhancing existing ones also saw us hosting a number of bilateral visits from counterpart agencies and other relevant partners in 2017. For instance, CPIB hosted bilateral visits from the Indonesian Agency of State Administration in June 2017, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in September 2017. We look forward to advancing collaborative ties with our regional and international counterparts in our collective fight against corruption. Visit by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU),

headed by Mr Sytnyk Artem on 17 July 2017

Visit by Vice Minister His Excellency Liu Jianchao of the People’s Republic of China and his delegation on 23 April 2017


Visit by Senior Officials from Afghanistan on 7 July 2017

P R E V E N T I O N & O U T R E A C H

PREVENTION & OUTREACH

Kopi at the Fortifying Your Business conference on 28 September 2017

Launch of the Singapore Standard ISO 37001 - Anti-Bribery Management Systems


Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong posing with CPIB officers at the Official Opening of the CRHC on 6 June 2017

On top of enforcement, CPIB recognizes the importance of educating the public through community outreach efforts to heighten awareness on corruption matters and to uphold Singapore’s zero tolerance towards corruption. In addition to providing talks for employees and learning journeys for students, the CPIB has also participated in several conferences and seminars to reach targeted groups of professionals.

In 2017, the CPIB engaged a total of 6,265 employees from the private and public sectors of Singapore. As shown in the statistics, private sector cases continue to form the majority of all corruption cases. The CPIB will continue to engage key industry players and business communities to educate companies and their employees.

Besides talks, the CPIB has participated in several private sector conferences in 2017, reaching out to a total of 953 participants. They have been acquainted with corruption matters and anti-corruption measures that companies can undertake.



Engaging Our Workforce

Reach ing The Private Sector

Number of Employees Engaged Through Talks

Number of Participants Reached Through Conferences

Public education talk for employees at the Corruption Reporting & Heritage Centre

Learning Journey with students of St Andrew’s Secondary School on 15 November 2017

Singapore’s reputation as one of the least corrupt countries in the world has drawn many countries to visit the CPIB and learn about our experience in combating corruption.

In 2017, the CPIB hosted 736 foreign delegates from around the world. These include His Excellency Liu Jianchao, the Vice Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Truong Hoa Binh, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Mikhail Anatolyevich Abyzov, Minister for Open Government affairs of the Russian Federation, Dr Mohamed Omar Abdulla Balfaqeeh, Ambassador of United Arab Emirates to Singapore, as well as delegations from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), among others.

Learning Journey with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Negros Oriental State University on 26 October 2017

In 2017, 597 students from Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges and Polytechnics visited the CPIB through the Learning Journey Programme. Through various activities, the students learn about Singapore’s journey in fighting corruption as well as the importance of ensuring our country stays corruption free. As the future of our nation, the CPIB will continue to educate this younger generation so as to continue the legacy of our forefathers in upholding a zero tolerance approach towards corruption.


Educating The Next Generation

Sharing Beyond Borders


Number of Students Engaged Through Learning Journeys

Number of Foreign Delegates Hosted

Visit by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh on 10 July 2017 Visit by Vietnam Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Mr Truong Hoa Binh on 13 July 2017



Visit by the 6th Forum of Small States Fellowship Delegation on 27 July 2017

Official Opening of the Corruption Reporting & Heritage Centre by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 6 June 2017

EVENTS & IN I T IAT IVES

In conjunction with International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December 2016, the Bureau has launched #IfILiveInDarkness Short Story Writing Competition. It attracted 275 participants from the Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, Institutes of Technical Education and Polytechnics with a total of 17 winners. The top 7 winners of the competition had written compelling stories about a world that is tainted with corruption and greed, and the consequences. They received the prizes for their efforts from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a prize presentation ceremony on 6 June 2017.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Director CPIB and the winners of the #IfILiveInDarkness Short Story Writing Competition


Corruption Reporting & Heritage Centre

The CPIB Corruption Reporting & Heritage Centre (CRHC) located at 247 Whitley Road was officially opened on 6 June 2017 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. About 80 guests and media personnel attended the event. The Centre makes it more accessible and convenient for members of the public to lodge reports on corruption. Members of the public may make an e-Appointment via the CPIB website. The Centre also houses a self-guided gallery which showcases key milestones and events, artefacts and case exhibits from the Bureau’s rich history and heritage. Since its opening, the Centre has played host to many foreign and local visitors alike.

CPIB Short Story Writing Competition


Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking to a CPIB officer at the Official Opening of the CRHC

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong trying out the interactive panels at the Official Opening of the CRHC

Since 2015, the CPIB has taken the effort to commend and recognise the individuals who have rejected bribes in the course of their work. On 8 December 2017, 19 individuals from the public and private sectors were commended.

Recipients of the Commendation Ceremony takes a group photo with Director CPIB

The CPIB, in partnership with SPRING Singapore, organised its first private sector seminar on 12 April 2017 to launch the Singapore Standard ISO 37001 - Anti-Bribery Management Systems. About 300 participants from the private sector attended the seminar. The Bureau has also published a guidebook, PACT: A Practical Anti-Corruption Guide for Businesses in Singapore, to help local business owners reduce the risk of corruption in their company. The guidebook was distributed during the seminar. ISO 37001 on Anti-Bribery Management Systems was launched on 15 October 2016. This is a new standard to help businesses and companies implement an anti-bribery compliance programme. Supported by SPRING Singapore, the CPIB had acted as the National Convenor to lead a national working group comprising representatives from the trade associations, industry bodies and academia to develop the standard.

On 28 September 2017, the CPIB partnered the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) for their conference on forensic accounting titled Fortifying Your Business. It was attended by about 500 participants, including financial crime investigators, law enforcement officers, professional accountants and compliance officers.


Commendation Ceremony for Rejection of Bribes 2017



Private Sector Engagement


CPIB participants at the Fortifying Your Business conference Recipient of the Commendation Ceremony receiving a plaque from Director CPIB

Two videos were produced to educate the general public and the students on the ills of corruption. Featuring real-life cases through enactment, several key messages such as zero tolerance towards corruption and no one is above law are emphasized. The feedback for the videos have been positive and encouraging. Two other videos for the public officers and private sector employees will be produced as well. The videos may be accessed on the CPIB’s YouTube channel (CPIB Singapore).

Kopi Lim manning the Duty Officer hotline

Cover page of Kopi Lim’s resume

Screenshot of the public education video for students

On CPIB’s 65th anniversary, it introduced an online persona “Kopi Lim” as a creative way to reach out and educate the general public especially the online community on the ills of corruption. Kopi Lim was introduced as a friendly, enthusiastic and inquisitive CPIB officer, a persona which seemed contrary to CPIB’s stern, fearsome and mysterious image. This refreshing and different image combined with its interesting name and curriculum vitae captured the imagination of many. Online, it reached over 85,000 netizens, garnered about 11,000 engagements and over 450 likes. The mainstream media became interested in this persona and gave it further publicity which helped the Bureau in spreading its anti-corruption messages to a wider audience. The posts by Kopi Lim can be found on CPIB’s Facebook Page (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Singapore).

CPIB Online Persona

Public Education Videos



DOING OUR PART TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

Singapore’s clean and incorrupt system is not a natural state of affairs. While the number of corruption cases in Singapore remains relatively low, there will always be those who will be tempted to break the rules and engage in corrupt practices. The CPIB takes a serious view of any corrupt practices and will not hesitate to take action against any party involved in such acts. Through our enforcement and public engagement efforts, the CPIB strives to combat corruption effectively, together with an informed community that rejects corruption. To help keep Singapore corruption-free, members of the public who know of or suspect any corrupt behaviour are encouraged to inform the CPIB.

Come down personally or write to us at 2 Lengkok Bahru, S159047 or 247 Whitley Road, S297830 Call CPIB Duty Officer at 1800-376-0000 Lodge an e-Complaint at www.cpib.gov.sg Email us at [email protected] Fax to us at 62700320

HOW TO REPORT CORRUPTION?

Where, when and how did the alleged corrupt act happen?

Who was involved and what were their roles?

How did you know about it?

Why do you think it is a corruption offence?

What is the bribe transacted or favour shown?

Have you reported the matter to anyone else or/and any other authorities?


WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A CORRUPTION COMPLAINT?

the corrupt practices investigation bureau - cpib.gov.sg annual report 2017.pdf · cpib was also a...

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