Jail for doctor who forged competence certificates to get licence for practice

A doctor specialising in aesthetic services was sentenced to four months' jail on July 29 after he forged four certificates of competence (COCs) and submitted them to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

Bernard Tan Wen Sheng, 35, committed the offences to obtain a licence for his medical practice, and two of the COCs pertained to workshops he had not attended at the time.

On June 30, Tan pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery and one count of giving false information to a public servant. Two other forgery charges were considered during his sentencing.

In sentencing him, District Judge James Elisha Lee stressed that the MOH regulatory framework is meant to safeguard public health and safety.

The judge said that Tan had knowingly committed offences against MOH, a public institution, and had shown a blatant disregard for the ministry's regulatory process.

In earlier proceedings, the court heard that COCs are a crucial part of the regulatory process, which MOH uses to decide if an application for a clinic licence should be granted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ariel Tan told the court in June that in or before February 2023, Tan decided to set up his medical practice, Bay Aesthetics Clinic, at Marina Bay Link Mall.