A prospective bus captain in Singapore failed his bus driving test and tried to bribe his test ingilator with $300 but was rejected, according to a report by Shin Min Daily News.
On Wednesday (5 July), he was sentenced to 4 weeks imprisonment.
What happened?
Chen Zheng Guang, a prospective bus captain, attempted to bribe his driving test invigilator in order to pass the test.
Chen, who was undergoing training at Go-Ahead Singapore to become a bus driver, had to pass a driving test at the Singapore Safety Driving Centre and obtain a Class 4 Driving Licence as part of his training.
On the day of the test on 22 July 2022 at about 2.50pm, Chen arrived at the driving center as scheduled and proceeded with the examination.
He had accumulated 46 points during his driving test and failed spectacularly, scoring more than twice the amount for a failure.
During the test, Chen allegedly handed a blue notebook to the invigilator, claiming that someone had left it in the vehicle.
When questioned about the owner of the notebook, Chen remained silent and placed it between the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. Upon opening the notebook, the invigilator discovered six pieces of S$50 notes, realizing Chen’s attempt to bribe him.
Accumulation of demerit points during the driving test
Despite the suspicious behavior exhibited by Chen, the invigilator continued with the driving test and reported the incident afterward.
At the end of the test, it was revealed that Chen had accumulated 46 demerit points, surpassing the minimum threshold for failure. This demonstrated that Chen’s attempt at bribery did not yield the desired results.
Upon discovering the bribe, the invigilator promptly rejected Chen’s offer, emphasizing the wrongness of his actions.
Chen persisted by trying to stuff the notebook into the invigilator’s pants pockets after completing the practical segments of the test. The invigilator sternly admonished Chen, making it clear that his behavior was inappropriate and against the rules.
After the test, the invigilator detained Chen in the oral examination room and reported the attempted bribery to his superior. Following the invigilator’s report, Chen was arrested by officers from the Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
During the subsequent legal proceedings, the prosecutor highlighted the seriousness of bribery as a crime. The act of bribing an examiner to obtain a driving license has the potential to endanger other road users.
Given that Chen had offered the bribe on two separate occasions, the prosecutor recommended a sentence of four to six weeks’ imprisonment.
In his defense, Chen pleaded for a lighter sentence, stating that he did not anticipate the situation escalating to such a serious offense. However, the prosecutor argued against probation as a suitable sentence for a crime as grave as bribery. Ultimately, Chen pleaded guilty to one count of bribery and received a four-week jail sentence.