The former senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) was spared time behind bars because he “showed remorse”, decided the District Judge who sentenced him on 6 December 2012.Peter Khoo Chong Meng pleaded guilty on 24 August 2012 to two counts of corruption and one of criminal breach of trust.
Khoo had confessed to pocketing CapitaLand shopping vouchers and taking kickbacks from a supplier, who was his friend, Mr Liaw Kim Chew, a director of Sino British Industries. Khoo pocketed $196,500, including $83,500 in bribes from Mr Liaw and $23,095 in CapitaLand vouchers.
Given the gravity of his offences, many had expected that Khoo would be jailed, but instead he was given a slap on the wrist by District Judge (DJ) Soh Tze Bian, who fined him $100,000, on top of an $83,500 penalty which was the total sum of bribes he pocketed.
According to court documents, the 49-year-old was spared jail because DJ Soh was convinced that Khoo had shown “genuine remorse”.
DJ Soh said Khoo’s voluntary confession in 2010 and full cooperation with the authorities showed genuine remorse.
During sentencing, Khoo’s lawyer had asked for a fine for his client, rather than a jail him. Khoo’s lawyer said his religious convictions had convinced him to confess his crimes and repent before God. Hence, Khoo had voluntarily surrendered and cooperated with the police by even helping the police to detail the items he had bought with the shopping vouchers.
Khoo’s lawyer said that, at one point, he was so guilt-ridden he “contemplated suicide”. Khoo has made full restitution, the lawyer added.
The lawyer also highlighted that during his time at SPH, Khoo had helped raise more than $44 million for the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, benefiting 85,000 needy children.
Although the prosecution had pressed for a custodial sentence during sentencing, it did not appeal the sentence when Khoo was merely fined.
Ref:tremeritus
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