Eye surgeon admits to tax evasion

[Xing Cai]

Apr 28, 2011

Eye surgeon admits to tax evasion

By Elena Chong

An eye specialist pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion on Thursday while a third charge was withdrawn after it had been compounded. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

AN EYE specialist pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion on Thursday while a third charge was withdrawn after it had been compounded.

Currie Chiang - owner of International Eye Centre (IEC) - made a false entry on Sept 13, 2007 by stating that her income from her practice was $998,107 when it was $999,197 for the year of assessment 2006.

For the YA 2007, the 55-year-old admitted preparing a false record of IEC's trade income by stating that it was $733,982, when the actual amount was $882,483.

The court heard that she would omit certain payment records of her patients from her Mount Elizabeth Centre clinic's daily computer records, especially for those who had made payments in cash.

She had instructed her staff to create an amended 'queue list' which understated the income earned by IEC, that she then used to report her earned income in her income tax return.

The 'queue list' records a complete set of information of the patient's details, fees paid, mode of payment and the medicine prescriptions dispensed at the end of each business day.

The total penalty payable for the tax undercharged - $29,529 - is $117,888. The consultant eye surgeon is looking at a minimum of six months on each of the two charges. Sentencing has been postponed to May 13.

 

[Xing Cai]

Surgeon faces suspension after tax evasion
By Jo-ann Huang | Posted: 28 April 2011 2036 hrs

SINGAPORE: Renowned eye surgeon Currie Chiang, who pleaded guilty on Thursday to tax evasion, faces a possible suspension from medical practice, her lawyers told the court.

Dr Chiang, who is liable to a jail term of at least six months, will face difficulties as a single mother to support her daughter, who is also a medical student, and her elderly mother, the court heard.

Dr Chiang was charged in September last year with three counts of tax evasion.

One charge was withdrawn on Thursday, with the courts proceeding on two counts.

For the years of assessment 2006 and 2007, she did not declare incomes totalling close to S$30,000. She faces a penalty of nearly S$118,000 -- close to four times the undeclared amount.

Her lawyers told the court that she was an illustrious medical practitioner.

Before setting up her own private practice The International Eye Clinic in 1993, 55-year-old Dr Chiang served in the Department of Ophthalmology in Singapore General Hospital, and was a consultant for the now-defunct Toa Payoh Hospital.

She "flew the Singapore flag proudly", having studied and practiced ophthalmology - a medical field involving the treatment and surgery of the eyes - in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, her lawyers said.

Besides working with prominent eye specialists in the United Kingdom and the United States, she was also known for her pro-bono work, providing eye treatment to villagers in Nepal and Batam.

Her peers at the Singapore General Hospital described her as "gentle and kind" as well as being an "excellent" ophthalmologist, the court heard.

But the prosecution said that tax evasion is a very serious offence and is not in line with public interest.

Dr Chiang's sentencing has been set for May 13.

-CNA/wk