According to sources, The Bank of Singapore ( BOS ) has conducted a thorough investigation into the misuse of medical benefits by staff who claimed for ineligible items like bird’s nest.
Three OCBC Group employees who spoke to CNA on Thursday ( Apr 25 ) claimed that” seven” of its employees were involved in the investigation, which ultimately resulted in the dismissal of some employees.
According to the sources, BOS, the private bank shoulder of OCBC Group, conducted an investigation last year into employee health claims involving one of its business panel clinics.  ,
Those involved were found to possess submitted promises for bird’s nest, beauty products, pills and toothpaste – products that are excluded under the company’s health benefits.
They were instructed to reimburse them for these statements.
The “more major cases” likewise had disciplinary results that impacted people’s bonuses. They also , did not receive a one- off expense- of- living aid of S$ 1, 000 ( US$ 735 ) for young workers across OCBC Group, CNA was told.
CNA has contacted BOS with inquiries regarding the anomalies in staff skilled claims, the first of which was revealed on Wednesday by the financial services careers business eFinancialCareers.
The post by , eFinancialCareers said that BOS had , sacked up to 40 people last week after an inspection of previous health claims. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that figure to CNA and that the , rejections took place over two times last month.
CNA was told that OCBC is likewise conducting its own research, and has contacted the lender with individual issues.
” AS SECRET AS BANK Deceiving”
According to those who spoke with CNA, the issue had been raging within BOS for some time, with those responsible being summoned to” a few months” of administrative hearings.
One individual, who was not involved in the investigation, said employees were told by managers that the affair was” as critical as defrauding the banks” and goes against the company’s essential value of integrity.
The claims were made under the company’s health insurance plan, which allows people to say up to S$ 10, 500 for medical and dental costs.
The list of claimable items, which CNA has seen, includes outpatient consultation and medication issued by a general practitioner or specialist, non- aesthetic dental services, vaccinations, X- rays and blood tests.
Expenses that are not allowed to be claimed largely cover those that are not medically needed, such as cosmetic surgery, items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as care devices like wheelchairs.
CNA is aware that BOS does not require itemized receipts for medical claims under S$ 200.
Although it is not known what led to the investigations, sources claim that BOS had inquired about its records from one of its company panel clinics over the previous two years.
The clinic is understood by CNA to be Drs. Thompson &, Thomson, which is located in Raffles Place, and has reached out for comment on Friday.
According to those who spoke with CNA, the clinic has been removed from the panel doctors ‘ list on OCBC and BOS since November.
OCBC and BOS staff were informed in an email dated November 10, 2023 that human resources would no longer reimburse invoices from Drs. Thompson &, Thomson dated from that same day.
The prohibition on Drs. reimbursing claims. Thompson &, Thomson applies to all employees and their dependants of OCBC Bank Limited, OCBC Management Services Private Limited, e2Power Private Limited, OCBC Securities Private Limited, OCBC Property Services Private Limited, Bank of Singapore Limited, BOS Trustee Limited and OCBC Overseas Investments Private Limited”, the email stated.