Two foreign employees convicted for fraudulent Work Injury Compensation claims

1. Two foreign employees, Singh Arshdeep (“Singh”), an Indian National, and Rohoman Md Shimul (“Rohoman”), a Bangladeshi National, were convicted on 10 March 2021 and 23 March 2021 respectively for making fraudulent claims under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA).

Case details for Singh Arshdeep

2. On 5 August 2019, Singh, an employee of Enlighten Furniture Pte Ltd, filed a Work Injury Compensation (WIC) claim against his employer for alleged injuries to his left middle finger, left index finger, left shoulder, back and left knee. He claimed the injuries were sustained when he fell backwards down a flight of staircase while carrying a wooden box to carry out his work on 5 March 2019.

3. Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) revealed that while Singh did indeed sustain a fall, the incident was staged. Footage from the company’s CCTV showed Singh loitering around the accident location before the incident. He appeared to be rehearsing the accident. Shortly after, he picked up the wooden box and slowly went up the staircase. When other workers appeared in the vicinity, he slowly leaned backwards, threw the wooden box behind him and fell down the staircase. Investigations also showed that he was not tasked to carry the wooden box to carry out his work.

4. Singh was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment for making a fraudulent claim under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). He was also sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment for furnishing false information to an investigation officer from MOM. Both sentences will run concurrently.

Case details for Rohoman Md Shimul

5. On 16 August 2019, Rohoman’s employer, Kim Bock Contractor Pte Ltd, filed an Incident Report on his behalf which stated that he had injured his right hand when meeting a friend outside of his worksite on 18 July 2019. MOM informed Rohoman that his accident could not be admitted under WICA as it did not arise out of and in the course of his employment.

6. Rohoman subsequently filed a WIC claim which stated that his injury was sustained at work. Investigations by MOM revealed that Rohoman’s account differed from that of two supervisors from his company. Rohoman had told them separately on two occasions on 18 July 2019 that he had fallen and injured himself when meeting a friend outside of the worksite.

7. Rohoman was sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment for making a fraudulent claim under WICA. One charge of making a false statement to an investigation officer from MOM was also taken into consideration for purposes of sentencing.

FURTHER ADVISORY

8. The WICA provides workers who are injured in work-related accidents with a low-cost and expeditious alternative to common law to settle compensation claims. MOM takes all claims seriously. Making a fraudulent WIC claim is not only an abuse of investigative resources, but also an objectionable act of deceit. As such, all errant claimants will be taken to task.

9. Under the WICA, those convicted of making fraudulent claims for compensation may be fined up to $15,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months, while those convicted of furnishing false information to the Commissioner or an investigation officer may be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed up to six months.