Three former SMRT employees and a fourth man were sentenced to prison for conspiring to defraud the rail operator of more than S$4 million (RM12.6 million), the court heard.
According to CNA, two employees from SMRT Trains’ Permanent Way Branch established a company under another person’s name to secretly secure contracts from their employer.
District Judge Eddy Tham described the offences as a “grave breach of trust,” noting that the men exploited confidential information and professional experience to gain an unfair advantage.
“While SMRT is a private organisation, it provides a vital transport service, and it is crucial that it operates efficiently, especially in terms of infrastructure and rail service delivery,” Judge Tham said.
Court proceedings revealed that section manager Jamalludin Jumari and assistant engineer Zakaria Mohamed Shariff controlled the company through a figurehead director, Akbar Ali Tambishahib. They later involved line manager Zulkifli Marwi, who accessed confidential information and endorsed bids submitted by the company.
Between 2007 and 2012, SMRT awarded 26 requests for quotations and two tenders to the company, including a timber sleeper contract worth S$3.7 million. When the sleepers were discovered to be below specification, SMRT terminated the contract. The prosecution noted that the men sought profits exceeding 400% on some transactions.
Jamalludin and Zakaria were each sentenced to four years and nine months in jail, while Zulkifli and Akbar received 26 months each due to their lower level of culpability. The prosecution had sought longer sentences — five to six years for Jamalludin and Zakaria, and two-and-a-half to three years for Zulkifli and Akbar.
Jamalludin had absconded in 2013 but was later extradited from Malaysia to face the charges.
Judge Tham highlighted that the offences could damage SMRT’s reputation and undermine the integrity of its approval system. He noted that Zulkifli did not initiate the scheme and did not directly profit from it. A request for leniency based on Zulkifli’s stroke was rejected, as imprisonment was not considered life-threatening.
All except Zulkifli indicated their intention to appeal. Under Singapore law, abetment of cheating carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
CNA reported that SMRT has been contacted for comment.
