On 2 March 2023, 36-year-old Lim Jian Rong Gerard (“Gerard Lim”), the principal and sole-proprietor of Success.Nat Tutorial Centre (“Success.Nat”), was charged in court with the offences of cheating, forgery, and falsification of accounts. The charges concern grant applications made under the SGUnited Traineeships Programme (“SGUT”) administered by the Singapore Business Federation (“SBF”), a programme partner appointed by the Workforce Singapore (“WSG”).
The SGUT[1] provided fresh graduates from the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics, universities, and other educational institutions with traineeship opportunities with host organisations. This was to help trainees develop industry-relevant skills during a weaker hiring climate due to the COVID-19 pandemic and boost their employability. Host organisations that took on trainees would receive government funding for the training allowance provided to trainees.
Between October 2020 and June 2021, Gerard Lim allegedly cheated SBF into disbursing grants amounting to more than $126,000 through the submission of fraudulent claims under the SGUT in respect of seven purported trainees. He allegedly forged the signatures of the seven purported trainees on training agreements and monthly development plans, as well as allegedly falsified monthly payslips to falsely represent to SBF that the purported trainees had received training and training allowances from Success.Nat.
If convicted, Gerard Lim faces the following punishments:
- For the charges of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and a fine;
- For the charges of forgery for the purpose of cheating under Section 468 of the Penal Code, imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and a fine; and
- For the charges of falsification of accounts under Section 477A of the Penal Code, imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, a fine, or both.
The Police takes a serious stance against the abuse of Government grants. Offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
[1] SGUT ceased on 31 March 2022.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
02 March 2023 @ 12:34 PM