Six men charged for corrupt, fraudulent GST tourist refund claims

[CaptainNeeda]

Updated: 09/25/2014 15:15 | By Channel NewsAsia

Six men charged for corrupt, fraudulent GST tourist refund claims

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SINGAPORE: Six men, including a former Singapore Customs officer, were charged on Thursday (Sep 25) for corrupt and fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) tourist refund claims.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) had identified several suspicious GST refund claims using data analytics on its electronic tourist refund system (eTRS). The agency then worked with the Singapore Customs, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) to investigate and, subsequently, arrested former Customs officer Mohamed Yusof Abdul Rahman and four Indian nationals on Jan 27 this year.

Lim Pheck Aun, a Singaporean sales executive who worked at Soon Huat Goldsmith, was also arrested by the CPIB on the same day, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The Singapore Police Force and Commercial Affairs Department were also alerted to the case due to suspected money laundering offences.

In court on Thursday, the Customs officer was charged with 29 counts of corruptly accepting gratification amounting to S$11,400 and 103 counts of intentionally assisting the four Indian nationals to fraudulently claim a total of S$493,858.67 in GST refunds. His employment was not renewed when it expired earlier this month, the press release stated.

Lim was charged with two counts of corruptly accepting gratification amounting to S$400 and seven other counts for accepting DOM Liquors. He was also charged 23 counts for assisting two of the Indian nationals to fraudulently claim $23,116.50 in GST refunds by making false entries in the eTRS system.

The four Indian nationals charged are:

Sundar Panneer Selvam - charged with 29 counts of corruptly giving gratification amounting to S$10,800 and seven counts of giving gratification in the form of DOM liquor. He also faces 30 counts for wilful intent to fraudulently claim GST refunds amounting to S$213,007.34, and nine counts of removing cash arising from fraudulent GST refund claims out of Singapore.

Baskaran Uthirapathy - charged with 11 counts of abetting Sundar Paneer Selvam and Pounraj Natarajan to corruptly give gratification to Mohamed Yusof Abdul Rahman amounting to S$3,550 and one DOM liquor and S$400 to Lim. There are also 33 counts for wilful intent to fraudulently claim GST refunds amounting to $98,273.64, and 11 counts of removing cash arising from fraudulent GST refund claims out of Singapore.

Pounraj Natarajan - charged with five counts of corruptly giving gratification amounting to S$1,300 to Mohamed Yusof Abdul Rahman through the previous two men, and one count of corruptly giving gratification amounting to S$250 to the former Customs officer. He is also facing 30 counts for wilful intent to fraudulently claim GST refunds amounting to S$114,990.51 and 11 counts of removing cash arising from fraudulent GST refund claims out of Singapore.

Gobi Raman - charged with 26 counts for wilful intent to fraudulently claim GST refunds amounting to S$143,359.63 and nine counts of removing cash arising from fraudulent GST refund claims out of Singapore.

"Singapore has always adopted a zero tolerance approach towards corruption and other criminal activities. The authorities take a serious view of any corrupt and criminal practices, and will not hesitate to take swift action against any individuals and parties involved," the press release stated. - CNA/kk