Two dentists from Phoenix Dental Surgery were charged on Friday (Oct 18) with cheating and falsification of accounts related to false Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) and MediSave claims.

The two dentists, Dr Andy Joshua Warren, 34, and Dr Teo Eu Gene, 36, are accused of cheating polyclinics into disbursing subsidies for dental procedures which they did not perform.

Their false claims involve 23 patients, over the span of a year, and amount to more than S$54,000, according to the police.

Dr Warren is also accused of cheating the Central Provident Fund (CPF) into disbursing money from patients’ MediSave accounts. He did this by submitting claims for day surgeries he did not perform.

Under CHAS, pioneers and citizens whose per capita monthly household income is S$1,800 and below get subsidies for dental treatments at private clinics.

The subsidy amount, which ranges from S$11 to S$266.50, is deducted from the patient’s bill. The dentist then submits a claim to the Government for the subsidy.

Both the dentists were also charged with falsifying their patients case notes in order to claim the subsidies, a report from CNA read.

According to the ministry, the Ang Mo Kio and Marine Parade clinics had submitted claims that did not comply with its rules and guidelines. This included a number of claims for procedures that were not performed, it said.

If convicted of cheating, the dentists can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined. If convicted of falsifying accounts, they can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both. /TISG