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Fish Farm CEO Accused of Bribery and Condo Payment Scandal

 



A former group CEO of Apollo Aquaculture Group, Ng Woei Kiat, has been charged with corruption-related offenses, including accepting a bribe and failing to disclose conflicts of interest in company transactions. Ng, 51, allegedly received S$450,000 in bribes from Alan Koh Joon Seong, a director at two engineering firms, Alric Projects and Alric MEP Engineering. The payment, allegedly made on August 24, 2018, was reportedly meant to ensure that Ng did not show disfavor towards the Alric companies in their business dealings with Apollo Aquaculture Group.

Authorities claim that Ng used the bribe to partially fund a S$471,000 down payment for a condominium unit at 159 Wak Hassan Drive just three days later. As a result, he faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Corruption, Drug Trafficking, and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (CDSA).

In addition to the corruption charges, Ng faces seven other charges under the Companies Act for failing to declare his interest in related-party transactions. These transactions involved two firms, Krisjade Trading and Ng Yock Hock Capital, which engaged in business dealings with Apollo Aquaculture Group between 2018 and 2020. Investigations indicate that Ng had significant control over Krisjade Trading and was both a shareholder and director of Ng Yock Hock Capital.

Among the undeclared transactions were a supply of 5,360 kg of sea cucumbers worth S$310,000 from Ng Yock Hock Capital to Apollo Aquaculture Group and a supply of 215 kg of hairy crabs worth S$17,361.08 from Krisjade Trading to the company. Ng’s failure to disclose these dealings constitutes violations under the Companies Act.

Koh, the alleged bribe giver, has also been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Koh, also 51, is a director at the two engineering companies involved in the case. His legal representative has requested an adjournment to make representations to the prosecution and may apply for Koh to travel overseas later. Both Koh and Ng have rejected plea deals and intend to claim trial. Ng has indicated that he will engage a lawyer for his defense.

Both cases are set to be heard in court again on March 13.

Apollo Aquaculture Group, once a promising player in Singapore’s fish farming industry, operates through five subsidiaries, one of which owns an eight-story fish farm in Lim Chu Kang. This facility was promoted as a high-tech solution to space constraints in Singapore when it commenced operations in 2021. However, the company encountered financial troubles and was placed under judicial management in May 2022, with an independent manager taking charge of its operations.

If found guilty of corruption, Ng and Koh each face a fine of up to S$100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. Under the CDSA, Ng could face a fine of up to S$500,000, up to ten years in jail, or both. If convicted under the Companies Act, Ng could be sentenced to up to 12 months in jail or fined up to S$5,000.

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