The sole director and shareholder of a dormant publishing company, International Times Pte Ltd (“International Times”), was charged on 15 December 2021 with four offences of cheating the Central Provident Fund Board (“CPFB”) into disbursing grants over a 11-year period.
The grants were disbursed under the Special Employment Credit (“SEC”), Temporary Employment Credit (“TEC”) and Workfare Income Supplement (“WIS”) schemes. The purpose of the respective schemes are as follows:
- SEC – to support employers and raise the employability of older low-wage Singaporeans;
- TEC – to help eligible employers alleviate the rise in business costs due to increased Medisave contribution rates for employers in 2015; and
- WIS – to support Singaporean employees whose earnings are in the bottom 20% of the population.
The grant payouts are calculated based on the salary of the employee, which is in turn derived by CPFB from the CPF contributions made by the employer to the employee.
As director of International Times, the man had allegedly authorised the payment of employer’s CPF contributions to the CPF accounts of himself and another individual between 2008 and 2019. To effect these employer’s CPF contributions, the man allegedly submitted to CPFB, payment advices indicating that the both of them received a monthly salary of $1,000 each, when he allegedly knew that International Times was dormant, and that both he and that individual were not paid these salaries. These CPF contributions led to the duo receiving payouts under the WIS, and International Times receiving payouts under the SEC and TEC. The total grant payout that the duo and International Times obtained through these actions was $86,305.
If convicted, for each charge of Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, the man faces imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and a fine.
The Police take a serious stance against the abuse of Government grants. Offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 December 2021 @ 11:10 AM