Malaysian on the run for 20 years gets extra six months' jail in Singapore - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian who was on the run from the law for 20 years is getting an additional six months jail term for misleading an immigration officer and for missing a court hearing in 2000, the Straits Times reported today.

According to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Siva Kumar Ramachandram, 46, was given a five-year sentence after he was found guilty of bribing a Cisco police officer to allow buses to transport illegal immigrants from Singapore into Malaysia through the Woodlands Checkpoint.

“Siva was charged under the Immigration Act and Penal Code on April 16 and will serve the additional six-month jail term after completing his initial five-year sentence,” it said.

CPIB said on Sept 24, 1999, Siva had been sentenced to five years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane.

However, sometime in October 1999, he fled the country with the help of a friend known only as “Boy” by using an unidentified person’s passport to cross into Malaysia.

CPIB said he was on court bail at the time and missed his magistrate’s appeal hearing on March 9, 2000, at the Singapore High Court, adding that a warrant for Siva’s arrest was issued the same day.

The investigation bureau said he was finally arrested on March 4 with the help of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Meanwhile, the Cisco police officer who was involved in the incident was also sentenced to one year in jail and fined S$2,800 in 1999.

CPIB said that Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach to corruption.