Liu Mei Ying, who held the positions of sole director and shareholder in Derma Floral Beauty Academy and Derma Floral Beauty, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment on 18 August after being convicted on 3 July of 27 charges related to fraud in connection with a funding scheme following a trial, according to a report by The Straits Times.
She had defrauded the former Workforce Development Agency (WDA), now known as Workforce Singapore, into disbursing $62,983.77 in training grants.
The Fraudulent Activities
Liu Mei Ying’s wrongdoing transpired between December 2011 and July 2013. During this period, she orchestrated a series of fraudulent acts, persuading her employee, Lau Pin Lin, to partake in the scheme.
These actions were aimed at deceiving the WDA into disbursing a substantial sum of $62,983.77 in training grants to Derma Floral Group, along with two other companies that sent their employees for training at Liu’s institutions.
Concealment of Fraud
To avoid detection, Liu Mei Ying instructed Lau Pin Lin to fabricate false information about trainees from her company.
This misleading information was submitted online to the WDA. In addition to this, Liu went a step further by having Lau create sham documents, which were later submitted to the WDA during their audit of the training grants disbursed to Derma Floral Group.
Legal Proceedings
Liu Mei Ying’s actions did not go unnoticed, and legal proceedings were initiated against her. She was tried in court and ultimately convicted of the numerous fraud-related charges.
However, Liu has lodged an appeal against her conviction and sentence, demonstrating her determination to challenge the court’s decision.
Lau on the other hand, was convicted back in 23 August 2019 after pleading guilty to her fraud offences and was previously sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment on 13 September 2019.
The Implications of the Case
This case underscores the seriousness of fraud, especially when it involves misappropriation of funds meant to enhance the skills and knowledge of employees.
Such actions not only harm the organizations involved but also undermine the public’s trust in funding schemes designed to promote workforce development.
WDA’s Evolution
The Workforce Development Agency underwent a transformation in 2016, evolving into a new statutory board known as Workforce Singapore. This change was aimed at aligning the organization’s goals with the changing needs of the job market and the desire to ensure the workforce remains competitive while being lean.