In a shocking turn of events, a security officer, Mohammad Hafizudin Hanapiah, and an auxiliary policeman from Certis Cisco, Thiru Murugan Shanmugam, found themselves entangled in a bribery scheme, preying on a peddler selling illegal s-x enhancement drugs (SEDs), according to The Straits Times.
This illicit collaboration unfolded between May and June 2022, leaving a stain on the integrity of security and law enforcement.
Alleged Offences
The prosecution stated that from May to June 2022, Hafizudin collaborated with Thiru to solicit bribes from the peddler, Chen Zixiong, a Chinese national. The bribes were allegedly given in exchange for the duo refraining from taking enforcement action against Chen, who was selling illegal SEDs.
According to court documents, Hafizudin and Thiru evenly split the bribes, with each receiving $70. Hafizudin, 30, who is no longer affiliated with Certis Cisco, pleaded guilty to a graft charge and was sentenced to three months and two weeks’ jail. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a penalty of $70.
The cases against Thiru, who is no longer associated with Certis Cisco, and Chen are currently pending.
Modus Operandi
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) had formed Foreign Workers Management (FWM) teams, consisting of auxiliary police officers and security officers, tasked with patrolling areas where foreign workers congregate. Hafizudin and Thiru were part of such a team, attached to Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre.
To commit the offences, the duo followed a strategic approach. They would seize the SEDs from a peddler, retain a portion, and then initiate a clandestine operation. Hafizudin would capture an image of the retained drugs, sending it to Thiru. Subsequently, Thiru would approach the peddler, offering to return a portion of the seized SEDs in exchange for a specific sum of money.
Collusion and Betrayal of Duty
The prosecutor, Deputy Public Prosecutor Kiera Yu, highlighted that Thiru or Hafizudin would tip off the peddler in advance of incoming raids, allowing the peddler to escape and avoid detection by the FWM team. This blatant betrayal of their duty raises serious questions about the integrity and trustworthiness of security personnel.