Overview

In a shocking case of fraud, a 33-year-old man, Muhammad Fariz Shaik Sha Marican, was found guilty of forging Grab receipts and timesheets to scam his employer out of more than $24,000. This deceitful act took place over a staggering 460 times, revealing a calculated effort to exploit his temporary employment at the Ministry of Health (MOH) amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Employment Background

Fariz was employed through the recruitment firm Persolkelly (PSK) and assigned to support MOH operations starting in November 2021. However, it wasn't until April 2023 that discrepancies in his submitted timesheets and transport claims were detected. It was discovered that he submitted inflated figures to PSK compared to those he reported to MOH.

The Fraudulent Activities

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelly Ng, Fariz forged Grab receipts on 228 occasions between July 2022 and April 2023. He altered genuine receipts by digitally modifying the date and time to falsely claim reimbursements for rides he never took. This fraudulent activity alone totaled over $9,500. Additionally, he created false Grab receipts on 234 occasions between December 2021 and June 2022, extracting an additional $6,900 from PSK.

In another layer of his deceptive practices, Fariz submitted falsified timesheets on eight occasions, exaggerating the number of days and hours he claimed to have worked. By copying a previous supervisor's signature onto these documents, he misled PSK into disbursing over $7,700.

Investigation and Arrest

The scheme began to unravel in May 2023 when Fariz became aware of the investigation into his activities. In an attempt to mitigate the situation, he confessed his actions in writing to MOH and resigned shortly after. He was subsequently arrested in July 2023.

Court Proceedings

During the court proceedings, DPP Ng advocated for a jail term of six to eight months, emphasizing the significant duration—18 months—over which these offenses occurred and the total amount involved. Despite Fariz's claim of being a first-time offender and making full restitution to PSK, District Judge Christopher Goh honed in on the clear intent for financial gain demonstrated by his actions.

Judge Goh has postponed the sentencing until November 28, allowing time to consider the broader implications of such fraudulent behavior and its impact on trust within the workforce, particularly during a period when public health efforts were critically needed.

Conclusion

This case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals will go to in order to exploit systems meant to support the community—raising questions about the integrity of employee practices in temporary staffing situations. Fariz's actions not only jeopardized his career but also put a massive financial strain on the firm aiding crucial health services during a global crisis.