Fullerton Health co-founders fined S$160,000 over falsified expense claims linked to former Aon CEO

SINGAPORE: Two co-founders of Fullerton Healthcare Corporation (FHC) have been fined a combined S$160,000 after admitting to falsifying entertainment expense claims that involved more than S$211,000 in inflated sums allegedly intended to provide financial assistance to former Aon Singapore chief executive Collin Chiew.

Dr Daniel Chan Pai Sheng (曾百胜), 52, was fined S$135,000 after pleading guilty to five counts of falsification of accounts, while Dr Michael Tan Kim Song (陈锦松), 52, was fined S$25,000 after pleading guilty to one count linked to one of Dr Chan's offences.

The pair had pleaded guilty on 8 July 2026 and were sentenced by the State Courts on 10 July 2026.

Court documents stated that the falsified claims totalled more than S$336,000, despite the actual entertainment expenses amounting to only about S$125,000. The difference exceeded S$211,000.

The court documents stated that the inflated amount was intended for Collin Chiew, 58, whose criminal case remains before the courts. The documents did not disclose whether Chiew ultimately received the money.

Judge grants discharge on corruption charges

The two doctors had previously faced multiple corruption-related charges arising from the same investigation.

However, District Judge Paul Quan granted the prosecution's application to issue both men with a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on the corruption charges.

A DNAA means the charges have been withdrawn for the time being, but prosecutors may revive them if new evidence or information emerges in future.

The prosecution also applied for Dr Chan to receive a discharge amounting to an acquittal on one count of falsification of accounts. The judge granted the application, meaning that particular charge cannot be brought against him again.

False claims exceeded actual expenses

According to court documents, Dr Chan submitted false or inflated entertainment receipts on multiple occasions to obtain reimbursement from Fullerton Healthcare Corporation.

His guilty pleas covered claims involving more than S$253,000 in falsified sums, including offences taken into consideration during sentencing.

Judge Quan described the amount involved as "by no means insubstantial".

Dr Tan's offence related to approving one of Dr Chan's expense claims.

The claim totalled about S$82,000, although Dr Chan had actually incurred expenses of approximately 200,000 yuan, equivalent to about S$42,512 at the time.

The discrepancy resulted in an inflated claim of nearly S$40,000.

That amount formed part of the more than S$211,000 in falsified claims linked to Dr Chan.

Court rejects defence arguments

The prosecution sought fines of between S$140,000 and S$150,000 for Dr Chan, together with a S$30,000 fine for Dr Tan.

Dr Chan's defence argued that an appropriate fine should not exceed S$120,000.

Dr Tan's lawyers submitted that a S$5,000 fine would be appropriate, describing his conduct as an isolated lapse.

Judge Quan ultimately imposed fines of S$135,000 and S$25,000 respectively.

In sentencing Dr Chan, the judge rejected submissions that he had merely acted under instructions from former co-founder David Sin.

"He could not have approved Dr Chan's claims if he had not submitted them," Judge Quan said in rejecting that argument.

The judge also noted that Dr Chan had admitted asking for falsified receipts to support the claims and would have understood the implications of submitting false documentation.

Internal controls bypassed; Judge: The group effectively checked itself

Judge Quan observed that Dr Chan submitted the false claims knowing they would be approved by colleagues Dr Tan and former director David Sin.

He noted that the three senior executives were able to approve business expense claims without requiring approval from the finance department.

"The group effectively checked itself," the judge said.

He added that this arrangement made the fraudulent activities difficult to detect.

While agreeing that the offending did not cross the custodial threshold, Judge Quan said the internal approval process significantly increased the seriousness of the misconduct.

Money allegedly intended for Chiew

According to court documents, Chiew approached Dr Chan in 2015 seeking financial assistance because he required money for his children and house.

Dr Chan subsequently informed Dr Tan of the request.

Prosecutors said Dr Chan then began obtaining inflated or falsified entertainment receipts from the country managing director of Fullerton Health China following overseas business trips.

Those receipts were submitted as entertainment expense claims.

Court documents stated that several of those claims were used to obtain company funds intended to provide the financial assistance requested by Chiew.

The trio also allegedly agreed that the payments represented consultancy services provided by Chiew to Fullerton Healthcare Corporation.

Scheme spanned several years

Deputy Public Prosecutors Jonathan Tan and Ashley Chin told the court that Fullerton Healthcare Corporation was an investment holding company.

Dr Tan and Dr Chan co-founded Fullerton Healthcare Group in 2010.

The company provided healthcare services through a network of doctors and specialists while also assisting clients with insurance claims.

Around 2012, the pair were introduced to Chiew while seeking business opportunities.

From 2015 onwards, Dr Chan travelled to Hong Kong about twice each month for business.

Before travelling, prosecutors said he informed former co-founder David Sin that he required inflated or false KTV receipts.

Those receipts were allegedly prepared by Tei Chu Pink, 46.

According to the prosecution, Dr Chan would meet potential investors at KTV establishments before collecting the inflated receipts.

Deputy Public Prosecutors Jonathan Tan and Ashley Chin said: "On some occasions, (Chan) would make payments of lesser amounts at the... KTVs using his own cash or credit cards. On other occasions, (he) would not make any payments."

After returning to Singapore, the receipts would be submitted to relevant personnel within Fullerton Healthcare Corporation or Fullerton Health China for processing.

One charge centred on 2016 claim

One of the charges involved a conspiracy between Dr Tan, Dr Chan and David Sin in December 2016.

Court documents stated that Dr Chan submitted receipts supporting an entertainment claim worth about S$82,000.

Investigations later found that he had actually incurred about 200,000 yuan, equivalent to more than S$42,000.

The inflated receipts resulted in a falsified amount of almost S$40,000.

Both Dr Chan and Dr Tan approved the expense claim by signing the relevant documentation.

In 2018, prosecutors said the trio agreed to continue claiming business expenses through inflated entertainment invoices, with payments made from Fullerton Health China's accounts.

The prosecutors said the understanding among them was that the payments represented consultancy services provided by Chiew.

Dr Chan later committed four further similar offences involving false entertainment claims in 2019.

Earlier conviction of third co-founder

The case follows the earlier conviction of Fullerton Healthcare Corporation co-founder David Sin.

In August 2025, Sin, 47, pleaded guilty to six counts of falsification of accounts and was fined S$160,000.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had previously stated that Dr Tan was a director of Fullerton Healthcare Group, while Dr Chan served as president of Fullerton Health China.

Both companies were subsidiaries of Fullerton Healthcare Corporation.

The two doctors no longer hold those positions.

Chiew remains before the courts and is scheduled to stand trial on 15 July on charges including alleged bribery and money laundering.