15 persons, aged between 25 and 66, will be charged in court on 17 September 2021 for their alleged involvement in fraudulent bank loan applications. Two of them will also be charged for providing false information to a public servant.
In May 2019, the Police received a report where a local bank had detected forged salary slips used to support several personal loan applications. Through investigations, officers from the Commercial Affairs Department established that between March and May 2019, the 15 persons had allegedly provided their personal particulars and copies of their identification documents to various individuals for bank loan applications. The places of employment furnished in the applications were believed to be false and the salary documents that were submitted in support of the applications were allegedly forged. As a result, the bank disbursed more than $220,000 in loans to the 15 persons.
All 15 persons will face charges under Section 47(3) read with Section 47(6)(a) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Offences (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, for acquiring property which they have reason to believe are benefits from crime. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, a fine up to $500,000, or both. The offence of providing false information to a public servant carries an imprisonment term which may extend to two years, a fine, or both.
The Police take a serious view of any person who commits or facilitates fraud and offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law. The Police would like to remind members of the public that police resources could have been put to better use in dealing with real crimes and emergencies than investigating into false reports or false information. Those who lodge false police reports or provide false information will face serious consequences under the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 September 2021 @ 6:55 PM