In a recent case in Singapore, a 37-year-old woman named Su Qin was fined S$5,000 (around Rs 3.2 lakh) after forging a medical certificate to get time off from work. Su Qin, a Chinese national, was feeling unwell and was also worried about her mother’s health. She wanted to take leave but feared that her company might view her negatively for doing so, as reported by Channel News Asia.
Su Qin’s Decision to Forge a Medical Certificate
Faced with this dilemma, Su Qin decided to create a fake medical certificate. Using Photoshop, she altered an old medical certificate to make it appear as if she had recently been hospitalized. Her goal was to use this forged document to get hospitalisation leave approved at her job at ETC Singapore SEC. Su Qin took leave from March 23 to April 3, during which time she was paid S$3,541.15 for her absence.
Attempt to Hide the Forgery
To make the forgery seem more convincing, Su Qin even modified the QR code on the certificate, hoping it wouldn’t be easily detected. She returned to work on April 4 and resigned the same day, possibly hoping to leave without raising any suspicion.
The Discovery of the Fake Certificate
Unfortunately for Su Qin, the company’s HR department discovered that the QR code on the document was blurred and didn’t lead to a valid link during a routine check. When asked to present the original certificate, Su Qin provided another fake document on April 8, this time with a different QR code. This raised further suspicions, and after questioning her, the company decided to terminate her employment within 24 hours.
Police Involvement and Legal Consequences
After her dismissal, the company’s HR head reported Su Qin to the police. During investigations, it was also revealed that she had previously forged her mother’s death certificate to extend her stay in China while caring for her critically ill mother. Su Qin was charged with one count of forgery, and two additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. She was fined S$5,000 by the court for her actions.
Her lawyer argued that Su Qin’s actions were driven by desperation, as she is the sole breadwinner for her elderly parents. However, the court still imposed the fine, emphasizing the seriousness of forgery.
Conclusion
This case serves as a reminder that even desperate situations do not justify forgery or dishonesty. While Su Qin’s actions may have been influenced by her personal struggles, the consequences of her forgery resulted in a significant legal and financial penalty. It also shows the importance of transparency in the workplace and the risks involved when trying to deceive an employer.
