Former narcotics bureau chief acquitted in sex scandal
Judge finds no grounds for charge that Ng aided Cecilia Sue's employer
Former chief of Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Ng Boon Gay, 46, was found not guilty on Thursday afternoon of obtaining oral sex from Cecilia Sue, in exchange for business favours.
In the closing submissions last month, Ng’s lawyer, senior counsel Tan Chee Meng, had sought to show that prosecution had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
But lead prosecutor Tan Ken Hwee had argued that the onus was on Ng, to prove that he is not corrupt under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as Ng was a top civil servant with the power to influence decisions that could favour Sue.
Ten witnesses, including Sue, testified in the closely watched sex-for-contracts trial after Ng was charged in June last year. Ng could have been jailed up to five years and fined up to $100,000 Singapore dollars (Bt2.5 million) for each of his four charges.
Meanwhile the Singapore attorney-general’s chambers says it had not decided whether it would appeal the not-guilty verdict.
A spokesman said: “We will assess the grounds of decision and assess whether to appeal or not”. Similarly, the prosecution will have to decide whether or not to charge star witness Cecilia Sue, 36.
He was accused of obtaining four counts of oral sex from Sue in 2011, in exchange for furthering the business interests of her then employers, Hitachi Data Systems and Oracle Corporation Singapore.
Ng’s lawyer, Tan Chee Meng, said they are “extremely happy with the outcome”.
Ng’s wife, Madam Yap Yen Yen, was crying and holding a relative’s hand when the judgement was being read out and when the judge accepted her husband’s testimony to be true. Ng looked calm.
Asked later if it was the best Valentine’s Day present she had received, she nodded and smiled.
In his verdict, the judge said he found no ulterior motive or corrupt intent in what Ng did. He said both Ng and Sue’s intentions were “innocuous”, and that there was no reason to believe that her offer of oral sex was intended as an act of inducement.
Tan, who had put up a strong defence of Ng, said it had been a tough year for his client and the latter wanted to extend his heartfelt gratitude to people who have supported him, including strangers.
