SINGAPORE — Dr. Wong Choo Wai, 53, was sentenced to seven months in jail on Friday (Aug 30) after pleading guilty to submitting fraudulent claims under the Community Health Assistance Scheme (Chas). Wong, who operated clinics in Bedok and Jurong, made 116 false claims totaling S$7,627 over two years.

Chas provides subsidies for lower-income households seeking medical care. Wong abused this system by submitting false claims for patients who did not visit his clinic, who did not suffer from the chronic conditions listed, or who had not undergone the medical investigations claimed. An audit conducted in 2017 by the Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH) revealed discrepancies, leading to a police report and an investigation by the Commercial Affairs Department.

Wong, who was the only person authorized to submit claims for both his clinics, falsified records to cover his tracks. While his defense argued that he was a dedicated doctor, the prosecution described his actions as “severely dishonest,” emphasizing the abuse of public trust. Wong could have faced up to 10 years in jail for his offenses.