13 ex-Certis officers charged with offences including pocketing items, possessing vapes and contraband cigarettes
Singapore authorities have charged thirteen former Certis officers with a range of offenses, including possession of contraband, misappropriation of goods, and obstructing investigations. The charges stem from alleged incidents occurring between 2019 and 2022, involving duty-unpaid cigarettes, vapes, and related products.
Allegations of Misappropriation and Possession
The thirteen individuals – all Singaporean citizens who were employed as enforcement officers – are accused of misappropriating a total of S$18,327 (US$14,493) worth of duty-unpaid cigarettes, vapes, and vape pods. The alleged misappropriation occurred on separate occasions while the items were entrusted to them in their official capacity. Additionally, five of the officers – Muhammad Fitri Jaffar, Muhammad Syafiq Tahar, Mohamad Aidil Abu Bakar, Muhamad Hazim Mohamed Jalil, and Muhammad Haziq Khamzah – are alleged to have conspired together in these acts.
Four of the officers – Faddley, Syafiq, Hazim, and Aidil – also face charges of possessing e-vaporisers and related components, which authorities state were seized as evidence in their work. Furthermore, Fitri, Syafiq, Aidil, and Faddley are accused of taking duty-unpaid cigarettes intended for disposal and keeping them for personal use.
Receiving Stolen Goods and Obstructing Justice
The charges extend beyond initial misappropriation. Ten of the officers – Fitri, Syafiq, Aidil, Hazim, Sufian, Faddley, Fiaros, Haziq, Khairul, and Nurazmy – are accused of receiving stolen cigarettes and vape pods valued at approximately S$1,438 from each other and others.
Four officers – Faddley, Fiaros, Choo, and Tan – face additional charges of obstructing the course of justice during investigations conducted by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Faddley allegedly disposed of contraband in a rubbish chute, while Fiaros is accused of deleting evidence from his phone. Tan is accused of informing Choo about the investigation, leading Choo to dispose of vapes and delete related communications.
The individuals named in the charges are: Muhammad Fitri Jaffar, 38; Muhammad Syafiq Tahar, 39; Mohamad Aidil Abu Bakar, 47; Muhamad Hazim Mohamed Jalil, 33; Sufian Mohamed, 45; Muhammad Faddley Abdul Wahid, 38; Chan Wei Ying, Olivia, 39; Mohamed Fiaros Mohamed Zakaria, 43; Muhammad Haziq Khamzah, 31; Muhammad Khairul Izzul Shah Abdul Karim, 38; Nurazmy Yusoff, 33; Reggie Choo Beng Kwang, 32; and Tan Wee Keong, 38.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific items were the officers accused of misappropriating?
The officers allegedly misappropriated cartons and loose packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, vapes, multiple cartons of vape pods, and other prohibited tobacco products.
What actions are alleged to have been taken to obstruct the investigation?
Faddley allegedly disposed of contraband, Fiaros allegedly deleted evidence from his phone, and Tan allegedly informed another officer about the investigation, leading to further disposal of contraband and deletion of communications.
What is the total value of the items involved in the alleged offenses?
The total value of the misappropriated items is S$18,327 (US$14,493), with an additional S$1,438 worth of stolen items allegedly received by some of the officers.
It remains to be seen what the outcomes of these charges will be. The officers could face penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment if convicted. A possible next step is a pre-trial hearing to determine the schedule for the case. Analysts expect the authorities to pursue the maximum penalties allowed under the law to deter similar conduct in the future. The case may also prompt a review of procedures related to the handling of seized contraband.