SINGAPORE — A former Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) employee was charged in a district court today (Dec 16) with obtaining bribes of over S$200,000 from several companies.

Yu Jiarong, 37, a former facilities engineer at A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME), faces 18 charges in total.

In December 2011, he allegedly received S$7,000 from two persons, named as Soh Kok Choy and Wang Shujun in court documents, as a reward for advancing the business interests of Contech Engineering with the institute.

Yu allegedly accepted more bribes from Soh and another person named Ang Yew Heng in April 2012. Subsequently, over the next one and a half years, Soh and Ang allegedly gave Yu a total of S$195,430, including a one-time bribe of S$49,700 on Sept 11, 2012. 

In exchange, Yu allegedly helped to further the business interests of  Techfield Engineering Services, Yield Engineering Solutions and Techfield Solutions.

The prosecution had earlier asked for bail to be set at S$300,000. 

Yu responded by telling the court: “I wish to say I’m innocent and would like the bail lowered.”

His bail was later set at S$200,000.

Yu will be back in court on Dec 30. It is understood that more charges are pending. 

If found guilty, Yu faces a fine of up to S$100,000, or a maximum jail term of five years, or both, on each charge.