Ex-MFA Director Charged for Misusing Diplomatic Privilege to Send Personal Items
The former Director-General of Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, aged 44, has been charged with misusing diplomatic privileges.
Oh allegedly used diplomatic bags, which are secure containers designed for sending letters and items between diplomats without inspection by customs, for personal gain.
Diplomatic bags, typically locked or sealed to prevent unauthorised access, are meant for transporting important diplomatic documents.
However, Oh’s uses for the diplomatic bags are just.. a little bit different – to send Panadol and luxury watches instead.
Maybe MFA not only needs to warn about fake calls now, but also fake “diplomatic” parcels.
Oh faces charges as of 23 Nov for deceiving the MFA, aiding in the cheating of the ministry, and providing false information to a public servant.
The first instance of this misuse occurred in December 2022 when Oh sent a package containing Panadol to Beijing, claiming it was for his MFA colleague, Mr Dion Loke Cheng Wang, though it was actually for a personal acquaintance.
This occurred during a time when COVID-19 cases were rampant, and restrictions on flu medications like Panadol were in place in China.
The second misuse of the diplomatic bag service by Oh took place on 12 Jan this year. He persuaded the same MFA colleague, Mr Loke, to dispatch a package of luxury watches from China to Singapore.
These watches were later brought into Singapore by Mr Loke on 17 Jan.
When questioned about this package, Oh reportedly misled then MFA Deputy Secretary Ong Eng Chuan, asserting that the luxury watches belonged to his father.
This claim, alongside his previous suspicious activities, cast doubt on his actions.
Facing Potential Jail Time and Fines
The MFA, in a statement to CNA, emphasised its expectation that all staff uphold the highest standards of conduct.
However, they declined to comment further due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
Currently, Oh is on no-pay leave while under investigation. His legal representation includes Mr Shashi Nathan and Ms Harjeet Kaur from Withers KhattarWong.
Mr Nathan described the case as “quite sensitive” to CNA and shared that he requested a longer adjournment to gather necessary documentation and communicate with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
He requested and was granted permission for Oh’s absence from certain future hearings, allowing his client to be represented by counsel alone.
Should Oh be found guilty of the charges against him, he faces up to three years in prison, a fine, or both for cheating.
Additionally, for lying to a public servant, he could be sentenced to up to two years in jail, fined, or both.
The case is scheduled for a subsequent hearing on 21 Dec.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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