Chinese national gets 8 weeks jail for trying to bribe 3 Traffic Police Officers with $100

A Chinese national who tried to bribe a traffic police officer has been sentenced to eight weeks in jail for for trying to bribe traffic police officers after he was checked on by the officers on the suspicion of drunk driving.

The facts of the case show that on December 3, 2019, the 38-year-old Chinese national, Han Shaolu, parked his car in an open-air parking lot in Geylang and rested in the car when two traffic police came forward to check. Han Shaolu tried to bribe two traffic policemen and another assistant supervisor who arrived later at the scene, with $100. He offered them the bribe to persuade them not to arrest him.

Instead of accepting the bribe, the three traffic police reported Han Shaolu to the Corruption Investigation Bureau. Han Shaolu was charged with corruption on June 12, 2020 for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and was convicted today.

Some forum and social media users who commented on the conviction of Han Shaolu suggested that the Traffic Police Officers probably spotted him because he must have left his vehicle idling while it is stationary.

Under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations, it is an offence for the driver of a motor vehicle to leave the engine of a vehicle idling while it is stationary, for reasons other than traffic conditions. The rationale is to minimise pollution. It will in turn reduce fuel wastage.

Owners who leave their vehicle engines idling can be fined up to $2,000 for the first offence and $5,000 for subsequent offences, if convicted in court.

If you are convicted of drink-driving, you are liable to a fine of between $2,000 and $10,000 and/or up to 1 year’s jail for a first-time offence. Repeat offenders face fines of between $5,000 and $20,000 and up to 2 years’ jail. If you get stopped by the police and fail the breath analyser test, you are in a lot of trouble. The legal alcohol limit in Singapore is 35mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, or 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

But some might not be aware that if you are found intoxicated in the driver’s seat of a stationary car, that is a similar offence as drink driving.

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