A 31-year-old woman will be charged in court on 23 April 2021 for cheating and forgery offences involving the COVID-19 Support Grant (“CSG”). The CSG was launched in May 2020 to provide financial support to Singaporeans affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 and was administered by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (“MSF”).
The woman is alleged to have:
- cheated MSF into disbursing $4,000 for two of her CSG applications;
- attempted to cheat MSF of $4,800 in another two CSG applications;
- submitted a forged letter of termination of employment; and,
- provided false information to two police officers investigating her CSG applications.
If convicted, the woman faces the following punishments:
- An imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine for the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The prescribed punishment for attempted cheating is the same;
- An imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine for the offence of forgery for the purpose of cheating under Section 468 of the Penal Code; and,
- An imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both for the offence of furnishing false information under Section 177(2) of the Penal Code.
The Police takes a serious view of anyone involved in making dishonest or fraudulent claims for Government grants. Offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
22 April 2021 @ 5:00 PM
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
22 April 2021 @ 5:00 PM