Chinese Tourist Charged for Bribing Officer to Avoid Smoking Fine in Singapore

April 22, 2025 | 02:02 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Take the smoking ban in Singapore seriously. Anyone caught smoking in unauthorized areas will be fined by the authorities, and the penalty will be more severe if the individual tries to bribe the authorities.

A tourist from China encountered this situation when he was accused of attempting to bribe an officer from the National Environment Agency (NEA) in order to avoid a penalty for smoking in a restricted area along Orchard Road. The individual, 41-year-old Huang Qiulin, was formally charged with corruption under the Corruption Prevention Act.

Huang allegedly offered a bribe of S$50 or around Rp 643,000 to NEA law enforcer Tan Tar Chuak, as reported by Channel News Asia. He hoped that Tan and two others would not take action against him. However, the law enforcers rejected the bribe.

The Chinese tourist told the district court that he would plead guilty. He was released on bail of S$5,000 or around Rp64.3 million and is scheduled to appear in court on May 15.

Smoking Ban on Orchard Road

Starting from January 2019, smoking has been banned in public spaces along Orchard Road in Singapore. Smokers are only permitted to smoke in designated smoking areas or specific allowed locations such as smoking rooms within office buildings or entertainment venues.

Anyone caught smoking in non-smoking zones faces a fine of S$200, equivalent to around Rp2.5 million. If prosecuted and found guilty in court, the offender may be fined up to S$1,000 or about Rp12.9 million. In addition, the punishment for corruption in Singapore includes imprisonment of up to five years, a fine reaching S$100,000 or Rp1.29 billion, or a combination of both.

On March 26, a tourist visiting Singapore was reported to have smoked outside a shopping mall on Orchard Road. According to a press release from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), the location was not within the designated smoking zones.

Orchard Road is among the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore. It is renowned as a shopping and culinary haven, featuring thousands of businesses that offer premium lifestyle experiences for both international visitors and locals.

Editor’s Choice:  10 Places to Find the Best and Unique Souvenirs in Singapore

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