A welding trainer with NTUC LearningHub was sentenced on April 4 to four months’ jail and a fine of $26,570 after he was caught taking bribes from trainees to help them pass their course assessments. Sandran Samoo, a 52-year-old Malaysian and Singapore permanent resident, admitted to collecting over $26,000 in bribes from 2016 to 2022. He pleaded guilty to five charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with another 21 charges taken into consideration during sentencing.
Sandran had been working as a welding course trainer with NTUC LearningHub since 2012. As part of his role, he regularly conducted a five-day welding workshop multiple times a year and also served as an invigilator for the practical assessment on the final day of each course.
Trainees who passed this assessment would receive a welding certificate, which, while not a mandatory requirement for welders in Singapore, is widely sought after. Most employers prefer workers with this certification, making it an important credential for employment in the field.
Knowing the value of the certificate and the desperation of some of his mostly foreign trainees, Sandran saw an opportunity. He would begin each course by warning the participants that the assessment was difficult and that many of their welding skills were not up to standard. He then offered to "help" them pass — for a fee.
The requested amount typically ranged from $100 to $200 per trainee. However, Sandran would also accept lesser amounts if trainees could not afford the full fee. This practice continued unchecked for several years, and Sandran eventually admitted that he collected an average of $350 a month through such bribes, amounting to around $3,600 annually.
Despite not having the power to influence the final outcome of the assessments — which were evaluated by a third party — Sandran led trainees to believe that he could help them secure a passing grade. His deception played on the fears and hopes of his students, many of whom believed their employment prospects depended on passing the course.
The corruption scheme only came to light in September 2023, when one trainee reported to his employer that Sandran had asked for $150 in exchange for help passing the assessment. The employer informed NTUC LearningHub and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), and instructed the trainee not to sit for the test. Authorities launched an investigation, which led to Sandran’s arrest and eventual confession.
In court, Sandran admitted to soliciting and receiving bribes from 2016 to 2022. He was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' jail, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
Sandran’s case highlights how long-running, small-scale corruption can remain hidden in plain sight, particularly in vocational training environments where vulnerable workers may be unaware of their rights or fearful of speaking up.
His employment with NTUC LearningHub has since been terminated. The organisation has not been implicated in the wrongdoing and is believed to have cooperated fully with the authorities once the case came to light.
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