Singapore's corruption complaints in 2014 fall to lowest

The number of complaints received by Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau ( CPIB) and the number of cases it subsequently registered for investigation in 2014 have both fallen to the lowest in the past three decades, said CPIB in a media release on Thursday.

CPIB received 736 complaints in 2014, which is a 7 percent decrease compared with 792 complaints in 2013. 136 out of the 736 complaints received were registered for investigation last year, an 11 percent decrease from the 152 cases registered for investigation in 2013.

CPIB said cases within the private sector formed the majority of corruption in Singapore. 85 percent of the 136 cases received for investigation in 2014 involved private individuals giving, offering or receiving bribes. 15 percent of such cases involved public officers.

The bureau said 40 percent complaints received by CPIB was through mail or fax. However, nearly half of the complaints which resulted in investigations came through a phone call or an in- person meeting. A complaint lodged in person was the most effective way, which was three times more likely to result in investigation, compared to an email or fax complaint.

In terms of prosecutions, 168 people were brought before the courts as a result of CPIB investigations last year. Those from the private sector comprised 88 percent of prosecutions.

CPIB said the corruption situation in Singapore is "under control", and noted that international measures "attest to Singapore remaining as one of the world's least corrupt countries".

The bureau also added that it is important that laws must be rigorously enforced and corrupt behavior continues to be socially unacceptable. Endi