An Indian national was sentenced to seven months’ jail on Dec 1 for engaging in corrupt conduct involving a former Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer whom he believed could influence the outcome of his immigration matters.
According to The Straits Times, Bharat, 22, admitted he complied with inappropriate requests from then ICA inspector Kannan Morice Rajagopal Jayaram, 55, because he wanted help with his short-term visit pass (STVP) application. He later told investigators he “did not want to have sex… as he was not gay,” but felt pressured due to Kannan’s position.
Kannan, who held senior responsibilities within ICA’s Visit Pass Unit, had earlier been sentenced on Sept 11 to one year and 10 months’ jail after pleading guilty to three corruption charges.
How Their Contact Began
According to court documents, Bharat arrived in Singapore on Jan 22, 2023, at 19 years old to study business and administration at the American Center for Education.
In February 2023, he accompanied a friend to ICA’s headquarters to extend the friend’s STVP. The prosecutors said Kannan processed the application and intentionally initiated physical contact with Bharat. Court documents state Kannan “purposely brushed his hand over the accused’s hand gently and smiled at the accused.”
When Bharat moved his hand away, Kannan “gently touched the accused’s thumb and told the accused that they were friends.”
Later that month, when Bharat again accompanied his friend to ICA, Kannan asked for his number. Bharat complied.
Events Leading to the Offence
Kannan later contacted Bharat, and they arranged to meet on Feb 18, 2023, at a block of flats near Kallang MRT station. Bharat and his friend visited Kannan’s residence, where conversations turned sexual after the friend stepped out to smoke.
The pair later went to Kannan’s bedroom, where the act occurred. When Bharat did not comply further with Kannan’s requests, the officer expressed displeasure. The prosecutors stated: “Kannan followed the accused to the living room and said he was not happy as the accused did not do what Kannan had asked of him.”
Bharat left shortly after.
He later explained to investigators that he complied with some requests because he “wanted to build a good relationship” with Kannan, who had previously helped “another foreigner with his application to extend his STVP.” Bharat also believed the officer “could help him” if he had difficulties with future pass extensions.
Bharat was issued a student pass valid until Aug 8, 2023. His school later applied for an extension until Sept 7. On Sept 8, 2023, Bharat received a work permit valid until March 7, 2024, though court documents did not specify the reason for this approval, according to report.
Court papers did not describe how Kannan’s wrongdoing came to light. However, he was charged in 2023. Officers from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau arrested Bharat in September 2025.
Prosecutors said the incident involved an officer abusing his authority and a young foreigner who believed he had to maintain a favourable relationship with an ICA official to protect his immigration status. The court found that Bharat had knowingly participated in a corrupt arrangement and sentenced him to seven months’ jail.
Image from ST
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