18-11-2024 (SINGAPORE) A Singapore court has handed down a three-week prison sentence to a motorist who attempted to bribe an auxiliary police officer at Woodlands Checkpoint after breaching traffic regulations.
The defendant, 42-year-old Wang Xiping, entered a guilty plea for offering bribes on two separate occasions to evade punishment after wrongfully using a bus lane whilst attempting to cross into Malaysia on 17 July.
Court documents revealed that upon being instructed to return to the proper vehicle lane, Wang first attempted to offer the officer RM50, followed by S$50. The auxiliary police officer promptly declined both attempts and informed Wang that the entire interaction was being captured on his body-worn camera before proceeding to request her passport.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:30am, led to Wang’s immediate arrest at the checkpoint. She was subsequently released on bail pending further investigation.
During the inquiry, Wang claimed she had mistakenly identified the officer as Malaysian law enforcement and attributed her actions to anxiety and communication difficulties. She further stated her belief that the initial refusal of the RM50 bribe indicated the officer’s desire for a larger sum.
The prosecution, dismissing these explanations, emphasised that both bribery attempts occurred within Singapore’s jurisdiction and sought a custodial sentence of three to four weeks.
In her mitigation plea, Wang, who is responsible for four children including an infant under one year old, requested a postponement of her sentence. Given her husband’s extended overseas business commitments, the district judge granted a deferment until 18 November to allow Wang to make necessary childcare arrangements.
