Singapore’s Former Spring Singapore Executive Sentenced for Massive Fraud
The Scam in a Nutshell
Leong Weng Cheou (age 46) masterminded a fraud that saw the statutory board bleed out nearly $155,000, with Leong personally pocketing over $77,000. He pleaded guilty in January to 18 counts of forgery and 12 cheating charges, with an extra 105 similar allegations considered during sentencing.
Judge’s Verdict and Key Points
District Judge Mathew Joseph called Leong the “chief architect” of the elaborate scheme, highlighting the “extensive planning” that comforted a few unsuspecting friends. He praised the judicial system’s ability to see through the smokescreen and noted that Leong’s betrayal abused the trust placed in him.
How the Fraud Unfolded
- Leong, in his days at Spring Singapore, evaluated applications for the Innovation and Capability Voucher (ICV). These vouchers cost $5,000 each and were meant to spur SMEs in innovation, productivity, human resources, finance, and other key areas.
- He forged invoices, quotes, and proof of payment to create fake vendors. These fake vendors were the sprinkles on the ICV cake that Leong was effectively baking for himself.
- In 2015 and 2016, Leong and four friends—Lionel Wong Yong Jun, Soh Eng Luan, Mary Heah Hwee Hoong, and Wong Ping Ling—registered shell companies and submitted fraudulent claims to siphon funds from Spring Singapore.
- When the scheme broke down around 2017, Soh Eng Luan consulted a lawyer and admitted her role in the conspiracy, leading to a police report that further exposed the illegality.
Enterprise Singapore’s Response
Since Spring Singapore merged into Enterprise Singapore, the new agency has tightened oversight. They’ve put in place stringent controls at every grant stage—from vendor qualification to claim verification—and now back it up with regular audits and data‑analytics for early fraud detection. The spokesperson emphasized continuous system reviews to keep the fraud risk management army ready.
Legal Consequences
- Each cheating charge could have cost Leong up to 10 years in prison and a hefty fine.
- The four co‑conspirators still face pending legal proceedings.
This story was first published in The Straits Times.
