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Apr 28, 2011
Eye surgeon admits to tax evasion
By Elena Chong
An eye specialist pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion on Thursday while a third charge was withdrawn after it had been compounded. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
AN EYE specialist pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion on Thursday while a third charge was withdrawn after it had been compounded.
Currie Chiang - owner of International Eye Centre (IEC) - made a false entry on Sept 13, 2007 by stating that her income from her practice was $998,107 when it was $999,197 for the year of assessment 2006.
For the YA 2007, the 55-year-old admitted preparing a false record of IEC's trade income by stating that it was $733,982, when the actual amount was $882,483.
The court heard that she would omit certain payment records of her patients from her Mount Elizabeth Centre clinic's daily computer records, especially for those who had made payments in cash.
She had instructed her staff to create an amended 'queue list' which understated the income earned by IEC, that she then used to report her earned income in her income tax return.
The 'queue list' records a complete set of information of the patient's details, fees paid, mode of payment and the medicine prescriptions dispensed at the end of each business day.
The total penalty payable for the tax undercharged - $29,529 - is $117,888. The consultant eye surgeon is looking at a minimum of six months on each of the two charges. Sentencing has been postponed to May 13.