On February 2 2026, a 34-year-old crane operator named Muhammad Sukaimi Gasali was sentenced to four years and seven months’ jail and a fine of 5,000 dollars for orchestrating an extensive corruption and smuggling scheme. Sukaimi, who worked for a company called GL Crane at Jurong Port, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of corruption. Between 2021 and 2024, he systematically bribed four Certis security officers to facilitate the smuggling of contraband cigarettes into Singapore.
The prosecution described the case as one of the most methodical attempts to undermine border security in recent years. Sukaimi did not simply offer money; he cultivated friendships with officers contracted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and exploited their personal and financial vulnerabilities. The scheme began in late 2020 at Jurong Port when Sukaimi befriended officer Muhammad Haaziq Karudin. Sukaimi gained influence by helping Haaziq pay for motorcycle repairs and later provided several loans. By July 2022, Sukaimi requested that Haaziq "close one eye" during vehicle checks. Between August and November 2022, Sukaimi paid Haaziq over 1,500 dollars across 26 occasions to allow his vehicle to pass without proper inspection.
The corruption network expanded when Haaziq introduced Sukaimi to Sri Daniah Abdul Razak, 26, another officer at the port. Daniah agreed to perform cursory checks in exchange for payments of up to 150 dollars per trip. When Daniah was transferred to Tuas Checkpoint in July 2023, the nature of the assistance shifted. Sukaimi began using Malaysian drivers to bring cigarettes across the border, and Daniah provided confidential ICA team schedules. She assessed which enforcement teams were "more lenient" and informed Sukaimi of their duty dates, allowing him to coordinate his drivers to minimize the risk of detection. Between February and April 2024, Daniah received over 2,000 dollars in bribes for this sensitive information. For her role, Daniah was sentenced on February 2 2026 to two years and two weeks’ jail, a fine of 1,700 dollars, and a penalty of 3,580 dollars.
Two other officers, Mohamad Aziffi Selamat and Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi, were also involved in the scheme at Jurong Port. Aziffi, 32, accepted bribes for 36 smuggling runs between 2021 and 2022 and shared operational details in breach of the Official Secrets Act. He was sentenced on October 21 2025 to one year and eight months’ jail and a penalty of 3,450 dollars. Khairul, 25, facilitated smuggling on four occasions in 2023 and was sentenced to 10 months’ jail and a 600 dollar penalty.
The illicit enterprise collapsed on April 19 2024, when ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint inspected a car driven by a Malaysian driver known as Hafiz. They discovered 22 cartons and 470 packets of contraband cigarettes hidden under the rear passenger seat. Investigations into the driver’s phone revealed WhatsApp communications with Daniah regarding "safer times" to enter Singapore. Sukaimi and Daniah were subsequently arrested in July 2024. While Sukaimi, Daniah, Aziffi, and Khairul have been sentenced, the case against the fourth officer, Muhammad Haaziq Karudin, remains pending.
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