Singapore Kitchen CEO, senior manager charged with alleged fraud, falsifying accounts; both to stay in jobs for now
Board says it’s in ‘best interest of company’ for them to remain in their positions
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[SINGAPORE] Singapore Kitchen Equipment’s (SKE) chief executive officer and senior manager were charged in relation to a probe by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD).
SKE on Thursday (Jun 4) said its CEO Sally Chua Chwee Choo, who is also SKE’s executive director, and senior manager Charlene Koh Sai Eng, were charged on Tuesday. Former chief financial officer Chow Mei Ling – who resigned from the company in 2021 – was also charged alongside the two.
Chua and Koh will remain in their respective positions “pending further developments”, said SKE.
SKE’s nominating committee and board, excluding Chua and her husband, Alan Lee, who co-founded SKE, believe it is in “the best interest of the company” for both parties to remain in their respective positions, the group said.
The three women each face two charges: one of fraud with false representation and another of falsification of accounts. The charges relate to alleged offences under Sections 424A(1) and Section 477A of the Penal Code.
SKE added that Chua and Koh are on bail and currently seeking legal advice. Their next court hearing will be on Jul 1.
In June 2023, SKE said that Chua and Koh were arrested by the CAD, in relation to an investigation for potential offences under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which outlines penalties for cheating.
The CAD probe emerged after a review by law firm Rajah & Tann related to eight payments totalling to S$1.4 million, which were made by SKE’s majority shareholder QKE Holdings, on behalf of the company’s main operating subsidiary, Q’son Kitchen Equipment, The Business Times reported in June 2023.
According to the review, certain employees of QKE altered documents without instructions from, and knowledge and/or approval of the executive directors.
SKE shares last closed at S$0.059 before the counter was suspended in August 2021.
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