A total of 275 people have been arrested so far amid a joint investigation by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and Police to combat fraud cases involving the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA), the SWD announced today.

The SWD’s TAVA Section, while processing applications in March this year, detected suspicious elements in the medical certificates submitted by some applicants.

An investigation revealed that the applicants concerned had not sought any medical treatment from the private medical institutions or clinics which had purportedly issued the relevant certificates.

Suspecting the use of false medical certificates, the SWD immediately contacted Police and referred the cases for the force’s investigation. It also ceased processing the applications in question.

The SWD said it will continue to assist the Police investigation, and will recover all the overpaid assistance payments, which amounted to around $14 million, from the applicants involved.

It emphasised that it is a criminal offence to provide false information to obtain TAVA payments, and that offenders, on conviction, are liable to a maximum of 14 years in imprisonment. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.

The SWD added that it will show no tolerance or leniency and will continue to make referrals to the relevant enforcement agencies on detecting suspected fraudulent elements in TAVA applications.