Two high-ranking executives linked to offshore and marine company Seatrium and its subsidiary have been charged in Singapore with corruption offenses. The charges revolve around alleged payments totaling approximately S$59 million in bribes in Brazil. Lee Fook Kang(left in picture above) and Wong Weng Sun, both Singaporean nationals, are at the center of this corruption scandal, facing severe legal consequences.
Wong, aged 62, held significant leadership roles within Sembcorp Marine, serving as the company’s president, executive director, chief executive officer, and managing director of Jurong Shipyard, a Seatrium subsidiary. Lee, aged 75, was the senior general manager of Jurong Shipyard. These executives are accused of engaging in corrupt activities to advance the business interests of the company’s subsidiaries in Brazil.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) revealed that most charges against Wong and Lee are related to the provision of bribes to Guilherme Esteves de Jesus, a former consultant of Seatrium. The corrupt payments were intended to benefit individuals in Brazil and influence business dealings in South American countries. The allegations include offering gratifications to Brazilian officials, politicians, and petroleum company Petroleo Brasileiro officers.
The prosecutors detailed specific instances where Wong and Lee purportedly engaged in corrupt practices. This included providing inducements to Brazilian officials, rewarding officers of Petroleo Brasileiro, and offering incentives to politicians in Brazil. The bribery scheme allegedly extended to assisting a Seatrium subsidiary in securing contracts relating to drilling rig units with oil-rig supplier Sete Brasil Participacoes. The corrupt actions spanned from 2010 to 2014, involving substantial amounts of money in multiple currencies.
Furthermore, Wong faces an additional charge of obstruction of justice for allegedly instructing employees to remove crucial evidence from an email sent by de Jesus. This evidence pertained to bribery transactions that de Jesus had executed or planned to implement. De Jesus himself, after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering by a Brazilian court in 2020, was sentenced to 19 years and 4 months in prison.
The legal proceedings surrounding this corruption scandal have led to discussions about a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) between the Public Prosecutor and Seatrium. If finalized, Seatrium will be required to pay a substantial financial penalty. The DPA aims to defer charges against the company under specific conditions, with part of the penalty intended to offset settlement payments made to Brazilian authorities.
Corruption offenses can carry severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to five years, fines up to S$100,000, or both. Convictions for obstruction of justice may lead to imprisonment for up to seven years or additional penalties.
