Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
International

5 Indians Charged For Fraud In Singapore

Darpan News Desk IANS, 03 Feb, 2017 12:32 PM
    Five Indians here were charged with fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund claims amounting to 167,253 Singapore dollars ($118,392) for jewellery they didn't buy, the media reported.
     
    Karunanithi Saravanan (36), Karunanidhi Rajesh (32), Waithiyalingam Karunanidhi (61), Kothandaraman Gnanam (29) and Ramaiyan Karthikeyan (43) were arrested on Wednesday following an investigation that stretched nine months, the Strait Times reported. 
     
    Each accused faces more than 200 charges of engaging in a conspiracy to claim fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds under the electronic tourist refund scheme (eTRS). 
     
    They were each offered a bail of 50,000 Singapore dollars ($35,373) on Thursday and will be back in court on February 24.
     
    If found guilty, they face a penalty of up to three times the amount of refund wrongfully claimed. They can also be fined up to 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,000), jailed up to seven years, or both.
     
     
    The tax crime of the five were first discovered on May 27 last year at Changi Airport, triggering a joint investigation by Singapore authorities.
     
    Pretending to be tourists, these Indian men bought jewellery invoices from local customers. 
     
    They then used the invoices and their passports to obtain tickets under eTRS and claimed the refunds at the port of departure, according to the report. 
     
    The eTRS is available only to tourists to claim GST refund on goods they have purchased and taken out of Singapore.
     
    Singapore's tax authority said it "will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against these individuals and any persons assisting them".

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Oxford University To Face Indian-Origin Student's Trial Over 'Appallingly Bad' Teaching Allegations

    Oxford University To Face Indian-Origin Student's Trial Over 'Appallingly Bad' Teaching Allegations
    Faiz Siddiqui, a modern history graduate, says he would have enjoyed a career as a top international commercial lawyer had he not been held back for obtaining a 2:1 grade when graduating in June 2000, reported the Daily Mail on Sunday.  

    Oxford University To Face Indian-Origin Student's Trial Over 'Appallingly Bad' Teaching Allegations

    Indian-Origin Mauritius PM Anerood Jugnauth Steps Down, Son To Take Over

    Indian-Origin Mauritius PM Anerood Jugnauth Steps Down, Son To Take Over
    Mauritius is set to have a new Prime Minister on Monday, two days after the 86-year-old Indian-origin Anerood Jugnauth resigned and handed over the post to his son.

    Indian-Origin Mauritius PM Anerood Jugnauth Steps Down, Son To Take Over

    Indian Diaspora Seeks Modi's Help Over Demonetised Currency

    Indian Diaspora Seeks Modi's Help Over Demonetised Currency
    The Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has pointed out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that diaspora Indians are being turned away by the RBI from depositing 

    Indian Diaspora Seeks Modi's Help Over Demonetised Currency

    Chasing Cricket Ball, 6-Year-Old Falls Into Sewer, Dies In Delhi

    Chasing Cricket Ball, 6-Year-Old Falls Into Sewer, Dies In Delhi
    In a tragic incident, a six-year- old boy died after he fell and drowned into a sewer while chasing his cricket ball in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar on Thursday, police said.

    Chasing Cricket Ball, 6-Year-Old Falls Into Sewer, Dies In Delhi

    Small Plane With Student And Instructor Crashes Near Airport In Duncan, B.C.

    An instructor and a student have survived a small plane crash just north of the airport in Duncan, B.C.

    Small Plane With Student And Instructor Crashes Near Airport In Duncan, B.C.

    Local Prosecutor Rupen R. Shah Becomes First Indian-American Judge In Virginia

    Local Prosecutor Rupen R. Shah Becomes First Indian-American Judge In Virginia
    Rupen R. Shah, who is currently the Chief Deputy of Augusta County Commonwealth in Virginia, has become the first Indian American judge to be elected the southeastern US state.

    Local Prosecutor Rupen R. Shah Becomes First Indian-American Judge In Virginia