The Social Welfare Department today said it had taken note of further arrests made recently by Police in relation to fraud cases involving Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA).

The department revealed in March that some applicants had submitted false medical certificates for their TAVA applications. After immediate referrals were made to Police, and following a joint investigation, a total of 275 people were arrested last month.

The department had earlier referred another batch of suspected cases to Police. This recently led to Police making a further 39 arrests of people suspected of obtaining TAVA payments with false information.

The department said it will continue to assist Police in combatting crimes.

It stressed that it verifies every TAVA application in a stringent manner, and has enhanced random checks of medical certificates submitted by applicants.

If false medical information, fraudulence or other criminal elements are suspected, the department will refer such cases to Police for investigation and recover any overpaid assistance payments from applicants.

The TAVA Scheme provides financial assistance to road traffic accident victims or the surviving dependents of deceased traffic accident victims.

The department added that on conviction offenders who provide false information to obtain TAVA payments are liable to a maximum of 14 years in imprisonment.