A 57-year-old driver was arrested for attempting to bribe a Traffic Police officer yesterday. The driver, who was caught for handphone driving and other traffic offences, had told the police officer that he was willing to give cash in return for the officer to look the other way. However, the officer was steadfast in his calling and did not give in to temptation.

On 12 June 2010 at about 4.30 pm, Sergeant (Sgt) Mohammad Sufyan was patrolling in the vicinity of Geylang Road when he spotted a driver holding on to his handphone while driving. Sgt Sufyan immediately signalled the driver to stop and upon checking, the driver was also discovered to be driving without a valid driving licence and using the vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Sgt Sufyan explained to the driver that he would be booked for committing the various traffic offences. Upon hearing this, the driver pleaded for leniency and offered Sgt Sufyan money in return for letting him off. The driver even wrote down his handphone number on a piece of paper and handed it over to Sgt Sufyan, offering to meet the officer to pass him the money. Immediately, Sgt Sufyan warned the driver that it was an offence to bribe a public servant. Undeterred, the driver made the offer again and Sgt Sufyan placed the driver under arrest for attempting to bribe him. The case has since been referred to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Acting Commander of Traffic Police, Superintendent Poh Lye Hin, commended Sgt Sufyan for upholding a high level of integrity. He said, “I am certainly proud of Sgt Sufyan who had demonstrated absolute integrity in the discharge of his duty. He is an exemplary example to his colleagues and shown that our integrity, which is one of the four core values of the Singapore Police Force, cannot be bought."