A 51-year-old Singaporean man received a four-week jail sentence and a $4,500 fine on March 4, 2025, for riding his motorcycle while intoxicated and trying to bribe an auxiliary police officer.
Cho Poh Hin was disqualified from holding or obtaining all driving licenses for two and a half years.
On November 24, 2022, Cho shared three bottles of beer with a friend at a Pasir Panjang coffee shop, starting around 7pm.
He finished drinking at approximately 9:30pm and decided to ride his motorcycle home.
About 15 minutes later, Cho made a wrong turn and ended up near Gate 2 of the Port of Singapore Authority’s Brani Terminal.
Auxiliary Police Officer (APO) Harithasan Arumugam approached Cho and noticed a strong smell of alcohol.
When asked about drinking, Cho initially avoided answering and said he wanted to make a U-turn. After several evasive responses, he admitted to drinking before riding.
Shortly before 10pm, APO Harithasan instructed Cho to stay at the location while he contacted his control room about the offense.
Upon hearing this, Cho dismounted his motorcycle, knelt before the officer, and tried to hand him a $50 note.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Huo Jiongrui told the court that when APO Harithasan rejected the offer and questioned Cho’s intentions, Cho persisted and attempted to slip the money into the officer’s vest.
The officer refused the bribe and reported the incident. Police officers arrived shortly after and arrested Cho following a failed preliminary breath test.
Tests at the Police Cantonment Complex showed Cho had 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath—nearly double the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Cho pleaded guilty to offering a bribe and riding a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol. He was charged in court in 2024.
