1 week's jail for MFA director-general who lied to public servant over use of diplomatic bag service
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SINGAPORE — A director-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) who gave false information to a public servant over the use of diplomatic bags was sentenced to a week in jail on May 20. In April, Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, 45, admitted that he had lied1 week's jail for MFA director-general who lied to public servant over use of diplomatic bag service
SINGAPORE — A director-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) who gave false information to a public servant over the use of diplomatic bags was sentenced to a week in jail on May 20. In April, Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, 45, admitted that he had lied to Ong Eng Chuan, then MFA deputy secretary (management), on Jan 19, 2023. Oh's two cheating charges linked to the use of the diplomatic bag service were considered during sentencing. A diplomatic bag is used for sending official correspondence and items to and from the ministry and its overseas offices, such as embassies or consulates. It is sealed and protected by diplomatic immunity and cannot be opened, searched or seized by Customs officials. In her judgment, District Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz said: «The serious potential consequences to the integrity of the public service and the MFA domestically — in so far as its internal investigative process was undermined — and internationally, justify a custodial sentence as a starting point.»