Chinese tourist charged for bribing Singapore officer $38 after being caught smoking

By Hoang Vu April 20, 2025 | 10:45 pm PT

Tourists walk along Orchard Road in Singapore. Photo courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board

A Chinese man was charged in court last week for offering a bribe to a Singaporean officer to avoid the penalty after being caught smoking in a non-designated area in the city-state.

Huang Qiulin, 41, is now under investigation for corruptly offering a bribe, a crime that carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to S$100,000, or both, according to Channel News Asia.

Huang, who visited Singapore on March 26, was smoking outside a shopping center on Orchard Road, a location where smoking is prohibited, according to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.

Since January 2019, smoking has been banned in public areas along Orchard Road, except in designated smoking zones.

Huang allegedly attempted to bribe an enforcement officer with S$50 (US$38) in exchange for avoiding the fine. However, the officer rejected the bribe.

Huang said he would plead guilty and has been released on bail of S$5,000. He will appear in court again on May 15.

Under Singaporean law, individuals caught smoking in prohibited areas may face a composition fine of S$200. If convicted in court, the fine can be increased to up to S$1,000.