Three workers jailed for making false work injury claims

By Calvin Yang, The Straits Times, 27 Sep 2014

THREE foreign workers spent between two and four weeks in jail this year for making false work injury claims.

The three, who were from different companies, claimed to have sustained injuries to the forearm, back and shoulder respectively during the course of their work.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a statement yesterday that between April and July last year, Bangladeshis Khan Momen and Billal Hossain Kader Molla and Indian national Govindan Raja attempted to get compensation from their employers under the Work Injury Compensation Act.

However, MOM officers, after conducting an investigation, found that all three had lied about their accidents.

They were repatriated to their home countries after serving their sentences.

"Such investigations and subsequent prosecution of fraudulent cases take up considerable time and resources, which could have been better spent on ensuring that genuine claimants have their claims settled fairly and expeditiously," said Mr Woon Cheng Peng, deputy director of MOM's work injury compensation department, in a statement.

Since the start of this year, four workers, including the three mentioned, have been convicted in court for making fraudulent work injury claims or giving false information, compared with two last year.

Those found guilty of making fraudulent claims may be fined up to $15,000 and jailed up to a year.

Those convicted of furnishing false information face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months behind bars.

Post by Singapore Ministry of Manpower.