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Public Interest Violated

The bus fare theft befalling CMB had triggered extensive media coverage and concerns in the public domain.

The bus operator is again applying for a fare rise because it has failed to make a profit. Yet the authorities and the operator do not appear to have made serious attempts to cut costs and increase revenue by enhancing the company’s operational efficiency and management system. Instead, passengers are asked to shoulder the financial burden. This is grossly unfair to the commuting public.
Excerpt from Express Daily 24 June 1981

Corrupt Cases Involving CMB Staff

Date when trial ended No. of persons prosecuted Post and Rank Summary of cases Offence No. of successful prosecutions
28 October 1981 12
  • 1 CMB Chief Duty Allocation Officer
  • 1 CMB Deputy Chief Duty Allocation Officer
  • 10 senior CMB drivers
 Between 1977 and 1980, drivers were forced to pay bribes to senior drivers who then get duty allocation officers to put them on preferential routes. Conspiracy in accepting bribes 12 (10 pleaded guilty, 2 were convicted)
7 December 1981 12
  • 4 CMB cashiers
  • 7 CMB workers
  • 1 former CMB worker
 Cashiers accepted bribes when he found out that workers in the coin room had been stealing, and assisted in exchanging the stolen coins for notes in nearby shops. Conspiracy in theft and handling stolen goods 12 (All pleaded guilty)
11 November, 1981 7
  • 6 CMB workers
  • 1 CMB clerk
 Conspired to steal coins from the coin room in the North Point depot between 1980 and 1981. Conspiracy in theft and handling stolen goods 7 (All pleaded guilty)
15 January 1982 6
  • 4 CMB workers
  • 2 housewives
 Conspired to steal coins from coin room since 1979. Conspiracy in theft and handling stolen goods 6 (All pleaded guilty)
8 April 1982 8
  • 5 CMB drivers
  • 3 former CMB staff
 Drivers accepted bribes between 1981 and 1982 in return for allowing other people to steal coins from fare boxes. A replica key to the boxes, prepared by the accused, was seized. Conspiracy in theft 8 (All pleaded guilty)
13 May 1982 7
  • 1 CMB driver
  • 1 former CMB driver
  • 1 driver
  • 1 factory worker
  • 1 hawker
  • 1 housewife
  • 1 unemployed person
 Conspired to steal coins from fare boxes on CMB buses between 1980 and 1981; some assisted in accepting stolen goods Conspiracy in theft and handling stolen goods 4
28 May 1982 3
  • 3 security guards employed by a security company
 Accepted bribes from CMB workers while working in the coin room in the North Point depot, and also stole coins from the room as reward for covering up the theft. Accepting bribes 2 (All pleaded guilty)
21 July 1982 15
  • 1 CMB driver
  • 13 CMB workers
  • 1 former CMB clerk
 Workers bribed drivers and security guards in a conspiracy to steal coins from fare boxes on buses since 1980 Conspiracy in theft and handling stolen goods 15 (All pleaded guilty)
6 October 1982 8
  • 1 CMB chief cashier
  • 1 CMB clerk
  • 1 CMB security guard
  • 1 CMB worker
  • 1 former CMB clerk
  • 1 former CMB worker
  • 2 bank employees
 Conspired to steal coins from the North Point depot through bribery between 1977 and 1981; bank employees accepted bribes for assisting in handling stolen goods Conspiracy in theft and handling stolen goods 8 (All pleaded guilty)
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