The woman who changed two men's worlds forever

Sensual is apt, said her colleagues.

Not vulgar, but elegant.

In fact, refined with the right amount of gentle touching that sizzles.

Always immaculately dressed, the femme fatale caught up in the ongoing corruption probe is a real head-turner.

The New Paper was the first to report last Wednesday that an IT executive was assisting CPIB with the probe into ex-heads of the Singapore Civil Defence Force Peter Lim and Central Narcotics Bureau Ng Boon Gay.

A colleague described her: "She was just so refined and charming. She would know how to flirt without teasing too much.

"Even when she touched you on the elbow, it was enough for her male colleagues."

Women were envious.

She got the hot contracts and appeared to nail them with ease.

Her bosses at her present US multi-national company (MNC) also made exceptions for her, said colleagues.

In the office, she dealt only with people who mattered (read: bosses).

But her world is unravelling at a maddening pace.

The Straits Times provided clues to her identity.

Netizens mined for more and posted more details online.

While she may have escaped the media glare, another axe hangs over the head of the woman who is said to be a 36-year-old mother of two.

She is said to have wined and dined with both Mr Lim and Mr Ng.

It's unclear if she did this while at her previous job in a Japanese MNC, or in her present job.

Added a colleague: "All employees of US MNCs are given a handbook on dos and don'ts when entertaining clients.

"Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), we have strict guidelines on how much we can spend entertaining public servants anywhere in the world."

The FCPA, enacted in 1977, makes it illegal to bribe foreign government officials to get or retain business.

The anti-bribery act came after the discovery that over 400 US companies acknowledged in the 1970s to making illegal payments of over US$300 million (S$375 million) to foreign government officials and politicians.

Yet, money does not have to be exchanged.

A simple promise to pay money or giving "anything of value" constitutes a payment.

It appears that the mystery woman could be dragged to court if she had committed the acts while working for the US MNC.

Anyone guilty of such an offence can be fined up to US$100,000 and jailed a maximum of five years in criminal proceedings in the US.

There is also the prospect of a civil suit.

The colleague said the cap for meals is US$50.

Even then, the bosses must be informed first.

And the bill will be queried by the company's compliance officer.

The colleague added: "You're allowed to take public servants out for lunch or dinner, but no karaoke sessions.

"And if it's golf, you can pay only for one flight. That's it."

For private clients, the ceiling can be US$2,000 per day, he said.

The colleague said: "Now it's all helter skelter in the office. Her bosses are in trouble and the company is flying in two auditors from the US.

"The company will not want to be dragged into this."

Coincidentally, Japan also has a provision under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

Under Article 18 of the Japanese law, it is unlawful to offer or promise any money or benefits to a foreign public officer in order to retain business.