SINGAPORE — Fourteen individuals have faced consequences following the discovery of irregularities highlighted by the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) during its audits of government agencies between 2020 and 2022. These reviews uncovered inconsistencies across various ministries and public bodies, leading to further investigations and police reports.

Out of the 14 people involved, five were charged with criminal offenses, while nine others received conditional or stern warnings. The police provided this information on Thursday (Aug 22) in response to inquiries from TODAY regarding actions taken following the AGO’s findings.

The AGO’s audits raised concerns over the legitimacy of certain records and management practices, prompting the affected agencies to initiate investigations. Several bodies, including the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), People’s Association (PA), and Singapore Land Authority (SLA), were involved.

Additionally, five ongoing investigations may lead to further actions, while some cases were closed after authorities found no grounds for criminal charges.

People’s Association Case

One of the major incidents involved the People’s Association (PA), which reported potential irregularities in payment records and improper use of contract rates during the 2020-2021 audit period. These lapses, linked to the Our Tampines Hub project, suggested the PA might have overpaid for services.

Actions Taken:

• Four men, aged 42 to 67, were charged in January 2023 for allegedly submitting false information and committing forgery related to the Our Tampines Hub project.
• Two of the four were fined S$8,000 each after being convicted of providing misleading information during the AGO audit.
• The cases against the other two individuals remain under prosecution.

The 67-year-old manager allegedly instructed an administrative assistant to forge 18 quotations, making it seem as if the contractor’s bids were the most competitive. This led the PA to accept the falsified quotes. Additionally, three other men conspired to submit backdated procurement documents during the AGO’s audit in late 2020, resulting in 142 falsified documents being presented to auditors.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Case

The MHA also came under scrutiny after the 2020-2021 audit revealed questionable documents related to two contracts. The AGO discovered that certain records appeared fabricated, raising concerns about whether the required work had actually been completed.

Actions Taken:

• One contractor was charged with forgery in July 2021 and later fined S$3,000 after admitting to the offense.
• Another contractor was issued a 12-month conditional warning in August 2021.

Singapore Land Authority Case

In the AGO’s 2021-2022 audit, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) filed reports over irregularities in two contracts awarded to a contractor. The authenticity of the quotations provided raised red flags during the audit, with investigators doubting the legitimacy of the pricing submissions.

Actions Taken:

• Eight individuals involved in the SLA cases received either stern or conditional warnings for providing false information and forgery. Stern warnings act as formal cautions without conditions, while conditional warnings come with specific terms that must be adhered to, typically for a period of 12 months.

These warnings are alternative actions taken in less severe cases, giving offenders the opportunity to avoid immediate prosecution, though future misconduct could result in legal consequences.

In addition, two police reports filed by the State Courts and the Singapore Food Agency following AGO’s most recent audit in 2022 are still under investigation, with no further updates available at this time.

The actions taken in these cases demonstrate the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability within public sector operations, as well as the willingness of authorities to address discrepancies highlighted in independent reviews.