The Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) was introduced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in March 2020. It is intended to tide self-employed Singaporeans with less means and family support over the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) helps MOM to administer the SIRS applications and appeals.
On 29 and 30 July 2020, the Police arrested three Singaporean women and one Singaporean man, aged between 24 and 55, for their involvement in a series of suspected fraudulent SIRS applications, with the alleged use of forged supporting documents. Several of the applications had been made on behalf of other persons. Police investigations for offences of cheating and forgery for the purpose of cheating, under Section 420 and Section 468 of the Penal Code respectively, are ongoing. Each offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.
Government grants such as SIRS are intended to provide assistance to Singaporeans who need help. The Police take a serious view of any attempt to defraud in connection with applications for these grants.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to take the following precautions when applying for government grants, to avoid being involved in fraudulent schemes and becoming an unwitting accomplice to fraudsters:
- Go through official channels to submit your grant application. For SIRS,please visit www.ntuc.com.sg/sirs or email sirs@ntuc.org.sg.
- Your Singpass account information and other personal particulars or supporting documents should never be shared with others.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
08 August 2020 @ 2:05 PM