In Singapore, partner at detective firm fined for agreeing to surveil police officer
In Singapore, 33-year-old Tan Hui Tin, a partner at private detective and security firm CDiC Consultants, was fined S$24,000 — about US$18,870. She pleaded guilty to one charge of agreeing for the company to provide private investigation services to surveil a police officer.
As Channel NewsAsia reports, in November 2021, Pai Hung Yao approached CDiC. He was dissatisfied with how Deputy Superintendent of Police Lee Tien Huat had investigated a case involving Pai's father and wanted to find out whether the officer was a “good or bad policeman.”
Detectives' work
On November 29, 2021, Pai met with Tan Hui Tin and another firm partner, Tan Kok Boon. They agreed that CDiC would provide licensed private investigator services to conduct surveillance and gather information about Lee. On the same day, Tan Hui Tin sent the client a letter on the provision of services, which he signed and returned.
At around November 30, the company began gathering information about the police officer after receiving his photograph, phone number and workplace details. Later, the client also sent messages containing information about people Lee might have contacted while investigating his father's case, including the name and photograph of the chief prosecutor.
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From December 16, 2021, to January 9, 2022, private investigators surveilled Lee near his home and workplace. They tracked his movements and photographed the police officer, his vehicles and residence. Some operations lasted more than 12 hours; one began at 7:35 a.m. and ended at midnight.
Lack of written approval
The detectives also called the Police Cantonment Complex to find out whether Lee was in the building. This complex is a protected area. For the work performed, CDiC received a total of S$25,100 from the client.
The company did not have written approval from a licensing officer to conduct surveillance of a police officer. During the day on January 9, 2022, Lee noticed that a group of people was following him, and the next day he filed a police report. Tan Hui Tin paid the fine in full. Under the relevant provision of the Private Security Industry Act, she could have faced up to two years in prison, a fine of up to S$50,000, or both penalties.
