On 8 August 2025, a major corruption case involving security officers contracted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) came to light in Singapore. Four Certis security officers, all working under ICA's operations, were officially charged with offences relating to corruption and breaches of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). The case also involved a fifth individual, Muhammad Sukaimi Gasali, 34, who allegedly gave bribes to these officers in exchange for protection and confidential information regarding enforcement operations.
Sukaimi is accused of providing over $7,600 in bribes to the four Certis officers between June 2021 and July 2023. In return, the officers reportedly refrained from taking enforcement action against him at Jurong Port, particularly concerning contraband or duty-unpaid cigarettes.
One of the officers involved, Sri Daniah Abdul Razak, 26, allegedly received $2,190 in bribes from Sukaimi between February and April 2024. These payments were said to be in exchange for her sharing confidential information about upcoming enforcement activities at Tuas Checkpoint. This information allowed Sukaimi and his accomplices to avoid detection and penalties.
Sukaimi now faces a total of six amalgamated charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for giving bribes to the four officers. In addition, he has been handed:
-
Four charges under the Official Secrets Act (OSA)
-
Two charges for abetment to engage in conspiracy
-
Four charges related to the storage of contraband or duty-unpaid cigarettes
-
Two charges for dealing with contraband cigarettes
The extent of the illegal operation includes the alleged importation of 22 cartons and 470 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore. This smuggling operation was reportedly done in conspiracy with Daniah and another unnamed individual. When authorities conducted investigations, 16 packets of contraband cigarettes were found at Sukaimi’s residence, while 9 packets were recovered from Daniah’s home.
The total estimated amount of excise duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded $10,900, underscoring the financial scale of this illegal operation.
As for Daniah, her alleged involvement led to the following charges:
-
Two charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act
-
Two charges for abetment in conspiring to import uncustomed goods
-
Two charges for storing uncustomed goods
-
One charge under the Official Secrets Act (OSA)
The other three Certis officers, Muhammad Haaziq Karudin, 33; Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi, 25; and Mohamad Aziffi Selamat, 32 were each handed one corruption charge and one charge under the OSA. Their alleged offence involved providing sensitive information to Sukaimi about enforcement checks at Jurong Port on various occasions spanning from June 2021 to April 2024.
This case raises serious concerns about internal security breaches and potential abuse of power within enforcement and checkpoint operations. The release of confidential information not only undermines national efforts to curb smuggling and contraband activity but also damages the trust placed in contracted security personnel.
The legal proceedings are still ongoing. Sukaimi, Daniah, and Haaziq are scheduled to return to court for a further hearing on 5 September 2025, while Aziffi and Khairul are expected to plead guilty on 19 September 2025.
This case highlights the vulnerability of enforcement systems to insider threats and the importance of strict oversight over contracted officers, especially those operating in high-security areas such as checkpoints and ports. Investigations are ongoing, and more developments may unfold as court proceedings continue.
Comments
Post a Comment