• Source:JND
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A veteran officer with Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has been sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to corruption charges involving sexual favours in exchange for approving visit passes.

Kannan Morice Rajagopal Jayaram, an Indian-origin officer who joined the ICA in 1996, was charged with three counts of corruption. He accepted sexual favours from three foreign men between 2022 and 2023 in exchange for helping them extend their short-term visit passes.

Another three similar charges involving other men were taken into consideration during sentencing. Prosecutors described the case as “appalling,” noting that a senior officer had “persistently abused his position” for personal gain.

What's The Case?

Court documents revealed that the men involved were between 25 and 30 years old, and some were Indian nationals who had travelled to Singapore to study. Kannan allegedly exploited their vulnerable situations by demanding sexual favours in return for approvals.

 

He committed the offences while serving as an inspector and team leader in ICA’s Visit Pass Unit. The unit handled requests from foreigners seeking to extend their stay, overstayers, and cases of lost travel documents. While guidelines existed, officers had discretionary power in approving or rejecting applications. Subordinates often consulted Kannan, giving him considerable influence over outcomes.

Suspension And Sentencing

Kannan was suspended from duty in April 2023 after investigations began. In July, he pleaded guilty to three charges, admitting his misconduct. His bail was set at $30,000, and he is scheduled to begin serving his jail term on September 18.

The court emphasised that his actions severely undermined public trust in the ICA. Prosecutors argued that as a team leader overseeing 10 to 11 officers, Kannan’s conduct had the potential to damage the integrity of the entire unit.

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Breach Of Trust

Kannan’s position gave him the ability to manipulate visa extensions, a responsibility he was entrusted with as part of his senior role. Instead of upholding the standards of the ICA, he used his authority to exploit foreigners desperate for assistance.

The court called his conduct a “serious breach of trust” that tarnished the image of a key public institution responsible for border security and immigration management.