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Police investigating 3 cases of falsified documents submitted for Covid-19 Support Grant: Desmond Lee

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has uncovered three cases of falsified documents while processing applications for the Covid-19 Support Grant.

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) has uncovered three cases of falsified documents while processing applications for the Covid-19 Support Grant.

Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee said in a Facebook post on Sunday (May 31) that these cases have since been referred to the police, who are now investigating the matter.

Mr Lee said that since applications for the grant opened on May 4, the MSF has received over 50,000 submissions.

The grant was introduced to help Singaporeans who either lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, or found their monthly salaries reduced by at least 30 per cent for a period of at least three consecutive months.

Successful applicants would receive monthly cash of up to S$800 for three months.

This is not the first instance in which the MSF has uncovered attempts to take advantage of cash relief for Singaporeans affected by the coronavirus.

On April 12, the MSF said a 41-year-old man was under investigation for possible abuse of the Covid-19 Temporary Relief Fund (TRF), which provides lower- to middle-income Singaporeans and permanent residents with a one-off S$500 aid.

The man had claimed in a post online that he was able to obtain TRF aid without any documents and that the system is “so simple to cheat”.

“We will not hesitate to take action against those who take advantage of assistance schemes,” Mr Lee warned on Sunday. “Attempts to defraud the system will slow down the process of us getting help to applicants who genuinely need assistance.”

Separately, Mr Lee said he was aware that “some employees or former employees” may have difficulty getting documentation.

These documentation could include official letters from the company to prove an individual’s involuntary job termination, retrenchment, no-pay leave, or reduction of income due to the current situation.

“Please approach our SSOs (social service officers) if this is the case. Our officers will help to verify the details you share against your past CPF records, and assist you if you qualify,” he said.

Related topics

Covid-19 coronavirus Covid-19 Support Grant

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