Who knows, Sylvia Lim may just have her wish come true. After all, she has been taunting with the line "Report to CPIB if there is any wrongdoing". And she had also confirmed to residents that as then chairman, she co-signed all payments big and small. So she knew every payment made.
Not just one, but two auditors' reports have raised the possibility of criminal conduct.
KPMG had said in its October report last year that AHTC town councillors may be liable for serious offences under the Penal Code, such as criminal breach of trust and abetment.
This is because as custodians of public funds entrusted to the town council, they have a fiduciary duty that entails "personal and collective responsibility''. If the improper payments had been made deliberately, "they could amount to criminal conduct", KPMG said.
Now seven months later, PwC said “Those within AHPETC who brought about this situation, and allowed improper payments, should also be held fully responsible for the losses suffered. The circumstances may also warrant further investigations by the relevant authorities as to potential criminal offences, including criminal breach of trust.”
What experts say
Nanyang Technological University accounting associate professor El'fred Boo said: "Accountants and auditors practise conservatism to a T. For PwC to make such a statement, the implications could be pretty grave for the town council."
"Auditors don't use these words lightly. There must have been compelling evidence for them to bring up the issue of potential criminal breach of trust," said Singapore Management University accounting associate professor Themin Suwardy.
"The key word is 'intentional'," he said. "You can be very dumb, and did something badly, but that does not equate to criminal breach of trust." He added: "Given the significant findings... I cannot see why a criminal investigation would not take place."
PwC said the circumstances around the selection of FMSS as managing agent show it was done by design.
1. FMSS was incorporated on 15 May 2011 just 7 days after GE2011.
2. It was incorporated even before CPG, the previous managing agent, had expressed any preference to be released.
3. There is documentary evidence suggesting that How Weng Fan and her husband, Danny Loh had been approached to set up a company to manage the new Town Council.
4. FMSS assured of the job two months before it was formally appointed.
5. FMSS had started charging AHTC in June 2011, before existing managing agent CPG was discharged on 1 August 2011, and before FMSS itself was formally appointed on 4 August.
PwC also found that Punggol East could have saved another $500,000 had proper procedure been followed by the town council..
Punggol East MP Charles Chong said PRPTC is studying the report and seeking legal advice on the matter, but has not made a police report.
The WP said it was studying the report and did not respond to queries for further comment.
Lie after lie after lie
“Our tender exercise was reviewed by three different auditors, our own consultants, AGO, PwC. Nobody made any findings that we did not exercise due diligence in assessing the tender price," Sylvia Lim declared at Workers' Party's first rally for GE 2015.
Anyone who has read the AGO Report on AHPETC knows that's a blatant lie.
How is it that a person who so blatantly lie again and again still enjoys wide support within Workers' Party and is still chairman of WP? WP NCMP Leon Perera even said in Parliament recently in honour of women that Sylvia Lim was one of the women who 'inspires him'.
