Former OCBC bank officer jailed for certifying, submitting forged documents in clients’ credit card, loan applications

SINGAPORE: A former OCBC bank loan officer was sentenced to eight months’ jail on Tuesday (Apr 26) for certifying forged revenue documents, which he submitted together with clients’ applications for credit playing cards and loans. 

Lau Wei Chong Nicholas, 26, confronted three counts of utilizing as real forged revenue documents, with one other rely of the identical offence considered throughout sentencing.

Police mentioned in a information launch that they acquired info in April 2020 that forged payslips and Central Provident Fund (CPF) employment contribution statements had been submitted to OCBC as proof of revenue to help 4 separate applications for credit playing cards and loans. 

Investigations confirmed the candidates had initially responded to loan ads that they got here throughout on on-line platforms, which supplied help in acquiring a loan or credit card from a bank inside a short while and for a service charge. 

They had been subsequently contacted by unidentified third events who directed them to use for the credit playing cards or loans at sure OCBC branches in particular person. 

The candidates went to OCBC branches on 4 separate events with out bringing alongside any proof of revenue documents, they usually had been attended to by Lau.

“Applicants would normally submit originals of their payslips and/or retrieve their latest CPF employment contribution statement in the presence of the loan officer,” mentioned police.

“However, Nicholas didn’t ask the 4 candidates to point out him the revenue documents in the abovementioned method.

“Instead, he received their documents via email or WhatsApp and he later certified them to be genuine even though he had reason to believe they were not.” 

Two such applications had been authorized, and OCBC incurred losses of almost S$36,500.

Anyone discovered responsible of utilizing as real a forged doc might be jailed for as much as 4 years, fined, or each.

“Financial institutions in Singapore require credit card and loan applicants to submit proof of income. Members of the public are advised not to respond to third-party advertisements that offer to secure credit facilities from financial institutions, without requiring any proof of income,” mentioned police.

“The police take a serious view against any person who may be involved in using or assisting to use forged documents to apply for credit cards and bank loans.”