NEWS
Man jailed 18 months for role in multimillion SLA fraud
SINGAPORE - A man has been jailed for 18 months on Thursday for his role in helping to cheat the Singapore Land Authority, news reports said.
Tan Meng Teck, 43, is the fifth man to be convicted and sentenced in the biggest case of government sector fraud since 1995. The SLA was cheated of $12.2 million between November 2007 and March 2010.
Koh Seah Wee, 41, and Lim Chai Meng, 38, the two main offenders in the case, are serving sentences of 22 years and 15 years respectively for their roles. Koh was then the deputy director of the SLA's technology department and Lim the manager.
Both came up with the scame at the end of 2007 with fake quotations that will bypass safeguards in the procurement system.
In early 2008, Lim got Tan who worked at telephone equipment firm TPL Communication as a vendor. Tan would "supply" goods and services to the technology department and prepare fake invoices when in fact, no work was done.
After the SLA paid TPL for their services, Tan returned 75 per cent of the fees to Lim and shared the balance with others.
The SLA awarded 282 contracts worth $12.2 million to 11 such 'vendors'.
Tan, married with a 14-year-old daughter, faced 11 charges amounting to a total of $388,320. He profited about $32,000, which he has since returned, the report said.
A Straits Times report said the prosecution proceeded on three charges against Tan. A total of $175,400 was involved. The rest were considered in his sentencing.
Two other men, ex-swimming coach Ho Yen Teck, 32, and former businessman Anthony Xavier Foo Doon Tong, 44, were also jailed 10 years and three years respectively.
Seah Hwee Thong, 48, the last person in the scam, will be dealt with next Friday.
Tan could have been jailed for up to three years and/or fined on each of the three charges.
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