Man Jailed for Attempted Bribery After Being Found with Illegal Handcuffs in Geylang
A 35-year-old Chinese national, Chen Dongliang, has been sentenced to three months and three weeks in prison after attempting to bribe police officers while in possession of illegal handcuffs. The incident, which occurred in May 2021, highlights the serious consequences of attempting to evade law enforcement through bribery.
The Incident Unfolds
According to CNA, On May 26, 2021, at approximately 12:42 PM, a concerned member of the public alerted the police about a man in Geylang who was reportedly carrying handcuffs and was engaged in a phone call. Officers from the Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre quickly responded to the call and located Chen sitting under a tree on Lorong 31 Geylang.
Upon approaching him, the officers requested his identification, to which Chen presented his work permit. A subsequent search revealed a pair of handcuffs in his possession. When questioned about the handcuffs, Chen claimed they belonged to his girlfriend, who had left Singapore, and that he intended to dispose of them. The officers informed him that possessing handcuffs was illegal and indicated that they would need to report the situation to their superiors.
Attempted Bribery
Feeling threatened by the prospect of being taken in for questioning, Chen attempted to bribe the officers with S$40, offering the money in exchange for their leniency. Body camera footage captured Chen making multiple attempts to hand over the cash, stating in Mandarin, “Monies for you all to drink coffee.” Despite the officers’ clear refusals, Chen persisted, even lunging towards one officer in an effort to stuff the notes into his pocket.
The officers warned Chen that his actions constituted bribery and that he would be arrested if he continued. Undeterred, Chen was ultimately arrested on the spot for his attempted bribery of a police officer.
Legal Consequences
Following his arrest, Chen was taken to Bedok Police Division Headquarters, and the case was subsequently handed over to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Although he was released on bail the day after the incident, Chen’s legal troubles did not end there. In 2022, he was found guilty of a similar offence, having attempted to bribe an auxiliary police officer with S$750 over three separate occasions to avoid enforcement actions related to the sale of sexual enhancement drugs.
Initially pleading not guilty, Chen changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial for the 2021 incident. Prosecutors sought a sentence of up to four months and one week in prison, while Chen’s defence lawyer argued for a lesser sentence, claiming that the bribe was offered impulsively rather than as part of a premeditated scheme. Ultimately, Chen was sentenced to three months and three weeks in jail for the graft offence on June 16.
As of now, Chen still faces additional charges related to an unrelated incident involving causing hurt in May 2025. This case serves as a stark reminder of the legal repercussions of attempting to bribe law enforcement and the importance of adhering to the law.