4 months’ jail for woman who tried to dupe Iras to get grants under Jobs Support Scheme
SINGAPORE - The human resources manager of a debt collection firm tried, but failed, to dupe the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) into disbursing over $8,500 in grants under a government initiative.
Wong Lai Kook’s case involved the Jobs Support Scheme, which provided wage support to employers to help them retain local workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
She was working at her then husband’s business – Double Ace Associates – at the time.
Iras did not disburse the money.
The 48-year-old Malaysian was sentenced to four months’ jail on Monday after she pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to cheat Iras of more than $2,700 in total.
Six other similar charges relating to the remaining amount were taken into consideration during sentencing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim said Double Ace made Central Provident Fund contributions to multiple people between February and April 2020 – described in court documents as the “relevant period”.
However, two of them were not working for the firm at the time as they had been ordered to spend time behind bars between June 2019 and July 2020.
Court documents did not disclose details about the pair’s offences.
Despite this, Wong attempted to deceive Iras into believing that the incarcerated men had performed work for Double Ace during the relevant period.
On or around July 29, 2020, she prepared and submitted to Iras a declaration falsely stating that the men had done actual work.
In relation to both men, she tried to con Iras into handing out $1,725 in total.
Wong also tried to cheat Iras by using six phantom workers.