Techie fined over Rs 3 lakh for photoshopping medical documents to avail 9 sick leaves. How HR caught her

The woman forged documents to get nine days of sick leave. (Representational)

A 37-year-old woman has been fined S$5,000 (approximately Rs 3.26 lakh) by a Singapore court for forging a medical certificate to obtain hospitalisation leave from her job as a software developer. Su’s actions, prompted by her mother's deteriorating health and her own struggles with stress, highlight the personal and professional pressures that can lead individuals to make impulsive decisions.

Su Qin, a Chinese national who moved to Singapore at 18 on a government scholarship, forged a medical certificate for her company ETC Singapore SEC using Adobe Photoshop, Channel News Asia reported.

According to court documents, she altered a legitimate medical certificate from a prior visit, changing its header to that of St. Luke's Hospital, modifying the hospitalisation dates to span from March 23 to April 3, 2024, and blurring the accompanying QR code. This act allowed her to take nine days off work, during which she received S$3,541.15 in salary.

However, the ruse unravelled when the head of human resources, during her resignation process on April 4, discovered the forged certificate. Her suspicions were further piqued when she attempted to verify the QR code, only to find it broken. After being asked for an original copy, Su submitted a second forged certificate, which ultimately led to her dismissal and the filing of a police report by her employer.

In court, Su pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, with two additional charges related to the fraudulent documents considered during sentencing. In her defense, lawyer Richard Lim said that her actions stemmed not from malice but from overwhelming emotional and financial pressure, CNA reported.

Following a call from a hospital in China regarding her mother’s critical condition, Su claimed her mother had passed away to extend her stay in China, subsequently submitting a forged death certificate. Su bore the financial burden of her mother's healthcare entirely on her own and had taken on additional freelance work, which did not provide paid leave.

The prosecution sought a fine between S$5,000 and S$6,000, given the severity of her actions, while Lim requested leniency, arguing that Su's motives were rooted in a desperate need for rest amidst a crisis.

Su has been terminated from both her roles and is currently unemployed.

While she could have faced up to four years in prison for forgery, Su's fine allows her the possibility to return home to care for her ailing mother.