Security guard allegedly tried getting bribe from person who didn't use TraceTogether

SINGAPORE — A security officer accused of attempting to obtain a bribe in exchange for not taking action against a person who had entered a condominium without using the TraceTogether application was charged in court on Monday (21 February).

Ganesan Gunasagaran, 33, was employed by Metropolis Security Systems and deployed to SeaHill Condominium during the alleged offences on 19 October 2021.

Apart from trying to obtain the bribe, Ganesan is said to have blackmailed the person for $10,000 by stating that the person would be investigated for illegal entry into the condominium and for having sex with a student in a toilet within the premises.

Ganesan allegedly personated a police officer to the same person, claiming that he was a high-ranking undercover officer of the "Singapore Police Licensing Sector".

The Malaysian was handed one count each of graft, extortion, and of representing himself as a police officer.

Appearing in court without a lawyer, Ganesan told the court that his "mistake was when there was communication via WhatsApp" but added that he did not receive any monies.

Asked by the judge if he would be accepting the prosecution's plead guilty offer, Ganesan said he was not ready to plead guilty.

His matter has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on 23 March.

If convicted of a corruption offence, Ganesan may be jailed up to five years and/or fined up to $100,000. For extortion, he can be jailed between two and five years and caned. A person who personates a police officer may be jailed up to six months, or fined up to $2,500, or both.

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