Former partner at private eye agency gets $24k fine over surveillance of cop

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Tan Hui Ting, a former partner at a private investigation firm, was fined $24,000 for unlawfully conducting surveillance on a police officer at a protected site without obtaining the required approvals. This case highlights the strict enforcement of regulations governing private investigations in sensitive areas like the Police Cantonment Complex, emphasizing the need for prior authorization to protect public security.

A former partner at a private investigation firm was fined $24,000 on September 15 for conducting unauthorized surveillance on a police officer, in violation of the Infrastructure Protection Act. Tan Hui Ting, 33, admitted to carrying out sensitive private investigation work without prior written approval from the licensing authority.

Tan and Tan Kok Boon, 58, the managing director of CDI•C consultants, accepted a November 2021 assignment to monitor a police officer stationed at the Police Cantonment Complex (PCC). The surveillance was linked to an investigation involving the client’s father, with the client seeking to assess the officer’s conduct.

Despite knowing the location was a protected site under the Act, CDI•C did not obtain the necessary approvals from the Police Regulatory Department before commencing surveillance. Between December 16, 2021, and January 9, 2022, private investigators from the firm followed the officer at his home and workplace, taking photographs and tracking his movements over extended periods, sometimes from early morning until midnight.

Throughout the operation, Tan regularly updated the client, identified as Pai Hong Yao, sending images of the officer, his vehicles, residences, and even reports on surveillance activities within the PCC itself. Pai, who expressed dissatisfaction with how his father was treated during an ongoing investigation, reportedly paid CDI•C $25,100 for the services.

The surveillance ended when the officer became aware he was being followed on January 9, 2022, and subsequently filed a police report the following day.

Tan stepped down as a partner at CDI•C in May 2025. In a related sentencing on July 14, 2026, Tan Kok Boon was fined $25,000, and CDI•C was fined $20,000 for supplying private investigation services without appropriate approval.

Prosecutors emphasized the deliberate nature of the surveillance targeting an officer working within a highly sensitive environment. They noted that the PCC serves as the operational hub for the Singapore Police Force and is designated a protected area to safeguard public safety and security operations.

Authorities characterized the actions as calculated and sustained, underscoring the seriousness of conducting private investigations in restricted spaces without proper authorization.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.