SINGAPORE - The sole proprietor of a construction company engaged in a conspiracy to give the facilities management director at the Singapore Zoological Gardens at least $127,000 in bribes.

Lim Thiam Poh’s firm, known as Thiam Lee Tradings Construction, was then awarded contracts worth nearly $2.4 million.

On Aug 5, he was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to five graft charges involving at least $59,000.

Ten other similar charges linked to the remaining amount were considered during sentencing.

Lim had engaged in a conspiracy to give the bribes to Barry Chong Peng Wee between February 2014 and June 2015.

Chong, 59, who is no longer working for the zoo, was sentenced to six years’ jail in April 2025.

Their accomplice, Too Say Kiong, 60, was sentenced to two years and two months’ jail in October 2023.

At the time of the offences, the Singapore Zoological Gardens was a subsidiary of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), now known as the Mandai Wildlife Group.

The Singapore Zoological Gardens is now known as the Singapore Zoo.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Hairul Hakkim told the court Too was a foreman of a company called Shin Yong Construction (SYC), which had contracts with WRS.

He had joined it in 1990 before leaving in mid-2015.

Meanwhile, Thiam Lee was SYC’s subcontractor be...