Charged with 27 counts of embezzlement and solicitation of gifts, Yee pleaded not guilty.
Singapore’s Transport Minister Yee Hwa Jin has been charged with 27 counts of corruption and soliciting valuable gifts on official business, and has pleaded “not guilty” in court.
The judge granted Yee Wah Yan S$800,000 (about RM2,808,333) bail to stay out. The case was adjourned to March 1 for a pre-trial conference as Yee chose not to plead guilty.
The Lianhe Zaobao reported that Yee, 61, arrived at the National Court Building at about 8.10am today, accompanied by a team of four lawyers, including Senior Counsel Boon Tat Sing. Dressed in a dark blue suit, Yee was noticeably thinner than in his previous public appearances. Before the hearing, court officials read out each of the charges to Mr. Yihua Yan.
The Attorney General’s Chambers sent Chief Public Prosecutor Mr. Chan Kit Ping to take charge of the Minister’s corruption case, with the assistance of two other chief prosecutors, Mr. Cheung Yuet Wah and Mr. Kong Ho Yue.
After the hearing, Mr. Chan pointed out that the prosecution had decided to charge Mr. Yee with 27 counts of corruption and said that the prosecution was ready for Mr. Yee to plead guilty.
After the prosecution finished, Yee Wah Yan calmly told the judge, “Not guilty.”
However, Man Tat Sing revealed in court that the Corruption Investigation Bureau (CIB) notified Mr. Yee of the 36 charges against him on Monday (15th) and recorded a cautioned statement, but it was only on Thursday morning that the prosecution notified them of the 27 charges; Man Tat Sing queried whether it was because of the content of Mr. Yee’s statement that the prosecution changed its stance on the charges.
Of the 27 charges against him, two of them allege that he violated the Prevention of Corruption Act. Yee also faces 24 counts of violating Section 165 of the Penal Code, alleging that he was a civil servant who used his official position to solicit benefits from Wong Sing Sing, a person with whom he had an official relationship with a government department. He also faces a charge of obstruction of justice.
