Pair linked to private investigation agency charged over unlawful surveillance of cop

In the first case of its kind, a man engaged a licensed private investigation agency to conduct surveillance on a police officer who was investigating a case involving the man’s family member.

Without revealing details about the case, the police said in a statement on Oct 30 that two partners of the agency accepted the assignment.

The police also said that the agency assigned four private investigators to work on the surveillance, which included trailing the police officer at his home and workplace.

“As the officer was working at the Police Cantonment Complex, (which is) a protected place under the Infrastructure Protection Act... prior approval from the Police Regulatory Department is required under the Private Security Industry Act,” the police said.

“However, the (two partners) had accepted and carried out the assignment without obtaining the necessary approval.”

On Oct 30, Tan Hui Ting, 32, and Tan Kok Boon, 57, were hauled to court after they allegedly provided private investigation services without approval.

The two Singaporeans were each handed a charge under the Private Security Industry Act.

Tan Hui Ting was also charged with performing an act that could obstruct the course of justice, while Tan Kok Boon is accused of intentionally aiding her to do so.

Court documents stated that at the time of the alleged offences in 2021, Tan Kok Boon was the managing partner of a firm known as CDiC Consultants while Tan Hui Ting was a partner there.

Tan Hui Ting is no longer a partner at the company, according to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority as at Oct 30.

Court documents said a person called Pai Hong Yao had allegedly engaged the services of CDiC Consultants.

On Nov 29, 2021, Tan Hui Ting and Tan Kok Boon allegedly consented to the engagement to supply a licensed private investigator to carry out the assignment involving the policeman without prior written approval from the authorities.

Tan Hui Ting is said to have performed an act that could obstruct the course of justice on Jan 24, 2022.

She is accused of deleting messages which Pai had sent on Dec 10, 2021.

Tan Kok Boon is accused of giving her the approval to delete them from her mobile phone.

The cases involving Tan Hui Ting and Tan Kok Boon have been adjourned to November.

In Jan 10, 2022, the police received a report regarding unauthorised surveillance of a police officer.

According to the statement, the policeman made the report that day after detecting the surveillance a day earlier.

With the help of images from police and CCTV cameras, officers from the Clementi Police Division managed to establish the identities of the two partners and the other private investigators.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the police added: “Upon completion of investigations and after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, the police, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, administered a stern warning to the four private investigators, aged between 25 and 43, (in October 2025) for their involvement.”

They also said that investigations against the agency’s client are still ongoing.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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