Man worked with SIA employee to get bribe of over $207k from renovation firm manager

A freelance interior designer worked with an assistant manager of properties (development) at Singapore Airlines to obtain a bribe of more than $207,000 from a manager of a renovation firm. The prosecution said on Monday that Rex Zhang Jiahao, 38, and Lionel Low Jun Jie, 36, who is no longer working for SIA, committed the offence after they met each other through reservist duties. The pair received the monies from Joseph Ang Kok Leng, 52, who was then with LIN ID group, on six occasions from June to October 2019, added Deputy Public Prosecutor R. Arvindren. Zhang pleaded guilty on Monday to a graft charge, while the cases involving Ang and Low are pending. At the time of the offence, Low managed ad-hoc renovation projects for SIA, and his duties included conducting quotation or tender exercises. After receiving quotations or tenders from applicants, he would shortlist contractors for interviews and make recommendations for one to be awarded the project in question. The interviews and decision-making were done by Low and his supervisor. Some time from late 2018 to early 2019, SIA conducted a tender for the construction of a two-story pre-fabricated building consisting of 24 classrooms at its training centre. In 2018, Low asked Zhang to recommend building contractors for the project. The prosecutor said that Low suggested to Zhang to tell the contractor that he had a contact in SIA. The contact could help the contractor in obtaining the tender in exchange for a commission. According to court documents, Zhang agreed to the plan and the two men also agreed to split the commission equally between them.<br/>