STA kena CPIB probe for bribery

[Nimm12]

6 vehicle inspectors under probe for bribery

Source: Straits Times

 

IN WHAT is believed to be the first case of its kind in Singapore, anti-graft officers have

hauled up vehicle inspectors suspected of accepting bribes in return for turning a blind

eye to illegally modified cars.

 

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) visited STA Inspection's Sin Ming Road

branch on March 9 and questioned half a dozen of its employees.

 

STA Inspection - part of the ST Engineering group - is one of three vehicle inspection

companies running 10 inspection centres.

 

The others are Vicom and JIC Inspection Services, which are not affected by the probe.

 

Vehicle inspection has been mandatory in Singapore since 1981. Cars that are between

three and 10 years old have to be inspected every two years to ensure their roadworthiness.

Cars older than 10 years have to go for an-nual inspections.

 

The STA inspectors are believed to have accepted bribes from workshops specialising in

car modifications.

 

These workshops, which often send customers' cars for inspection on their behalf for a fee,

are believed to have bribed certain inspectors to ensure they would pass the modified vehicles.

 

STA Inspection's general manager, Mr Teo Kee Jin, told The Straits Times that six employees

at its Sin Ming branch were questioned by the CPIB.

 

He said STA set up its own board of inquiry following the CPIB's visit.

 

'During the course of our own investigation, a decision was made to dismiss four of

the employees, who admitted they had breached company policy. The two others

have been suspended,' he said.

 

Observers expect some, if not all, to wind up in court. The CPIB has refused to comment.

 

The crackdown has sent ripples across the car workshop trade - especially those involved in

modifications. Several workshops contacted refused to comment.

 

'Everybody is lying low right now,' said Mr Tony Tan, deputy editor of motoring magazine Torque.

 

'They're worried that they might be hauled up too.

 

'Even the car owners are worried.'

 

Mr Tan, however, felt that though the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has relaxed the rules

on modifications in recent years, the regulations are still out of step with the times.

 

'Many of the modified cars are safer than normal street cars,' he said.

 

Mr Joey Lim, president of the Singapore Motor Workshop Association, concurred.

 

'The LTA is being too cautious,' he said.

 

Among the rules the authority has relaxed in the last five years is one governing exhaust systems.

 

Previously, there was a blanket ban on after-market exhaust systems. Now, those with

proper certification are allowed.

 

Last year, the authority took action against 2,510 motorists for making illegal modifications

to their cars - 44 per cent more than in 2008, and possibly the highest in 10 years.

 

Most cases are related to exhaust systems, tinted windows and lamps.

 

In the wake of the CPIB probe, vehicle inspection firms are tightening processes.

 

Mr Teo of STA Inspection said the company has enhanced what is 'basically a robust system'.

 

'We have implemented a number of changes, including randomly rotating inspectors

across test lanes within the same centre, as well as rotating them across our three different centres.

 

'This increases the 'randomness' of customer-inspector contact,' he said.

 

Vicom spokesman Tammy Tan said: 'We are currently fine-tuning our processes to

make sure abuses...do not occur within our organisation.'

 

The inspection business is estimated to generate a combined profit of $40 million a year for the three players.

Edited March 31, 2010 by Nimm12

[Celicagt42010]

OK, those do illegal mods esp. exhaust can go and remove them already....

 

Those doing illegal aftermarket mods can go close down already....

 

The end of all aftermarket Turbo sales.....

[LoverofCar]

It the end...that is it...for all illegal....mod shop can closed shop liao...

[LoverofCar]

actaully very simple to catch those bribery...becos if an illegal modified car got caught on the road...they just need to track back the record at where the car do inspection...and the inspector cannot never hid....

[TangoElite]

actaully very simple to catch those bribery...becos if an illegal modified car got caught on the road...they just need to track back the record at where the car do inspection...and the inspector cannot never hid....

 

 

the driver can always say illegal modifications were added after inspection

 

or illegal modifications were removed before going for inspection and restored back again after inspection

 

so you cant really tell if the inspector did hide or not, cos it could have been a very different car during inspection

[Tarzan666]

Not really can blame...they can put on the illegal parts after inspection...

[Ben5266]

If my memory serves me right, someone ever declare here before that they got lobang to pass the inspection test. The govt is doing a good job here.

[The_Bear]

If my memory serves me right, someone ever declare here before that they got lobang to pass the inspection test. The govt is doing a good job here.

 

Ancient Chinese Wisdom

 

"Paper cannot contain fire"

 

"If you dun wan ppl to know, only way is not to do it"

 

"no wind wave no cum"

 

"tree big call wind"

 

Take your pick.

[Hiphiphoray]

I dont understand why ppl like to mod thier cars.

 

Why dont they just buy that better car ?

[Ichibawa]

I dont understand why ppl like to mod thier cars.

 

Why dont they just buy that better car ?

 

Same theory to those who put gadgets into their car just to gain a few HP or save a few drops of fuel.

[Toapayohkid]

I dont understand why ppl like to mod thier cars.

 

Why dont they just buy that better car ?

 

modding is incremental in buying and almost like hobby, so is fun to some.

[TangoElite]

those who dont understand why people mod their cars are probably not petrol heads themselves

[Picanto]

I dont understand why ppl like to mod thier cars.

 

Why dont they just buy that better car ?

 

simply no $$$. so buy a Mitsu GLX...mod it till it look like a EVO race car.

also can buy a impreza, mod till it look like WRX.

 

if got $$, they will buy the real thing

 

[Kiadaw]

1) Its usually cheaper to modd a the current car (include car price) than getting a faster car, especially in Sunny Singapore.

Who don't want a Ferrari or Lambo, but how many can afford? You can't get the prestiage, refinement & looks of these cars, but its possible to have similar "zoom" & performance at a factor of the price with an Evo or Rex.

 

Even a cheap mod like an air filter & reflash can increase your car hp by 5-10 hp. Why not. At least I can overtake better & maybe even better FC.

 

2) Like said, its a hobby & maybe personalisation. Some people like to get the best out of what they have. Like why people like to customise their iphone with skins & backcover, or why you don't use the corporate wallpaper of your compnay for your work PC.

 

3) They like certain part of the car, but not some part. So they make the part they don't fully like to what they wanted by modding. Either cosmetic, performance or ICE.

 

But after all is said & done. Just not worth to do illegal mod & risk getting caught & the risk of relibility & safety. Many modds are illegal for a reason, like test pipes & rollcage.

[XLR8]

I dont understand why ppl like to mod thier cars.

 

Why dont they just buy that better car ?

 

Simple....they cannot afford lar. So go for the illegal cheaper option lor.

[Celicagt42010]

I dont understand why ppl like to mod thier cars.

 

Why dont they just buy that better car ?

 

To some its a hobby. Just like why there are upgrade parts for toys (exp. RC cars etc).

[inlinesix]

1) Its usually cheaper to modd a the current car (include car price) than getting a faster car, especially in Sunny Singapore.

Who don't want a Ferrari or Lambo, but how many can afford? You can't get the prestiage, refinement & looks of these cars, but its possible to have similar "zoom" & performance at a factor of the price with an Evo or Rex.

 

Even a cheap mod like an air filter & reflash can increase your car hp by 5-10 hp. Why not. At least I can overtake better & maybe even better FC.

 

2) Like said, its a hobby & maybe personalisation. Some people like to get the best out of what they have. Like why people like to customise their iphone with skins & backcover, or why you don't use the corporate wallpaper of your compnay for your work PC.

 

3) They like certain part of the car, but not some part. So they make the part they don't fully like to what they wanted by modding. Either cosmetic, performance or ICE.

 

But after all is said & done. Just not worth to do illegal mod & risk getting caught & the risk of relibility & safety. Many modds are illegal for a reason, like test pipes & rollcage.

Stock is d best!!

[Carer]

Even a cheap mod like an air filter & reflash can increase your car hp by 5-10 hp. Why not. At least I can overtake better & maybe even better FC.

 

 

can i ask something? if really a cheap mod like air filter can have better fuel consumption, why dun all car companies do that?