The CCAC has detected a case of document forgery and fraud. The four suspects involved had repeatedly defrauded the subsidy of the Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation Funds of the SAR Government. The suspects included three Macao residents and one Hong Kong citizen. Among them, three are suppliers while the remaining one is an applicant of the fund. The CCAC has transferred the case to the Public Prosecutions Office.

The case disclosed that three of the suspects are suppliers of energy-saving products, during the process of applying for the Government-funded “Subsidy Scheme for Acquisition of Products and Equipment for Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation” on behalf of the clients and the provision of energy-saving products, they quoted an exaggerated price of energy-saving products to the relevant enviornmental protection department and submitted false quotations and invoices. Under the subsidy scheme, the maximum amount of subsidy is up to eighty percent of the price of the energy-saving products, the remaining twenty percent and the installation costs are the responsibilities of the clients themselves. The suspects involved have ultimately caused the funding institution to subsidise the full amount, or even over-funded by using a fradulent approach. At the same time, it caused a rise of sales of the energy-saving products, leading to an increase of profit. The other suspect, who is the proprietor of the subsidised shop, has also participated in the fraud.

So far, it is found in the investigation that the case involved a total of twenty-two applications from different applicants. Some of the shop owners’ names have been impersonated to declare false information unkowningly. The total amount involved in the case amounted to some MOP800,000 while an amount of subsidy of more than MOP200,000 was defrauded. During the investigation, the offences were confessed.

In addition, one of the suspects is currently a public servant, although the case has no relation with his/her duties, he/she has engaged in activities as a supplier in way of part-time job and also abetted others to provide false information for fradulent purposes. Therefore, the CCAC has notified the department where the public servant involved is serving.

The acts of the four suspects have allegedly constituted offences of document forgery and fraud. Under the Penal Code, the offences of document forgery and fraud are liable to a maximum of three years’ imprisonment accordingly.