A 34-year-old Singaporean man has been hauled to court for allegedly trying to profit from bribes in exchange for confidential details about Health Sciences Authority (HSA) vape enforcement operations.
The accused, Michael Anthony Pillay, was employed as a Chief Enforcement Supervisor at WSH Experts Pte Ltd, a private agency subcontracted to assist the HSA’s tobacco regulation branch. He now faces a corruption charge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, reported CNA
According to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Pillay sought to obtain bribes totalling S$8,000 from a Malaysian man in 2024. The bribes were allegedly offered in return for “exclusive information” about upcoming raids on illegal vape activities.
Linked to Multi-Million Dollar Vape Case
Court records revealed that the man Pillay allegedly solicited money from was Chua Wee Ming, a 34-year-old Malaysian accused of being involved in one of Singapore’s largest vape seizures worth over S$5 million.
Investigations showed that Chua was linked to the import of hundreds of thousands of vaporisers and components into Singapore. He allegedly recruited accomplices to smuggle goods across the border, conduct surveillance on an HSA-held warehouse stash, and even break into the secured unit to retrieve products.
Several of Chua’s associates have since been convicted and jailed for their roles. Chua himself has been in remand since October 2024 and faces more than 20 charges, with his pre-trial conference scheduled for later this month.
Case Adjourned to October
Pillay appeared in court without legal representation and requested time to engage a lawyer. His case has been adjourned to October 2025.
If convicted, he could face a fine of up to S$100,000, a jail term of up to five years, or both.
This is not the first time WSH Experts has faced scrutiny. In 2024, two of its officers were separately jailed — one for sexual offences committed against women under investigation, and another for leaking the schedule of joint anti-vape operations.
The CPIB has urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspected corruption. Reports can be filed anonymously via its hotline, online portal, or directly at CPIB Headquarters.