Former principal charged for cheating and forgery offences

The former principal of Impresario Learning Lab, a student care centre, was charged in court on Thursday (2 Jan) for cheating and forgery offences pertained to subsidy applications made under Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme.

Shaik Ismail Mohd Ali, the 49-years-old former principal, had allegedly forged subsidy renewal forms for a student who had already stopped attending Impresario Learning Lab, according to the police news release on Wednesday (2 Jan).

Shaik also accused of forging various documents that falsely represented the employment of the parents of two students.

“The alleged offences took place between 2014 to 2016, which resulted in wrongful subsidy payouts of approximately $7,000,” the release stated.

Administered by Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), eligible household for SCFA scheme will receive monthly fee subsidies for the child’s student care fees.

They can also receive a one-off start-up grant of up to $400 per child, to subsidise the initial costs of student care enrollment.

On 23 Aug 2016, MSF had revealed the multiple instances of wrongful claims for student care fee subsidies made by Impresario Learning Lab during an audit and served a notice of intention to revoke the Lab’s status as SCFA administrator.

A follow-up release on 7 Sep 2016 stated that the Impresario Learning Lab’s status as SCFA administrator would be revoked on 20 Sep 2016.

Impresario Learning Lab had ceased operations since then.

In 2015, Straits Times published an article featuring Shaik as a principal of day care centre would like to be a big ‘bro’ for the children at his centre.

It was also reported that the curriculum of Impresario Learning Lab is focusing on learning through play such as video game sessions, percussion classes and swimming lessons.

“The centre’s fee, including the cost of percussion and swimming lessons, is $300 a month,” Straits Times reported.

Other than cheating and forgery offences, Shaik is also facing other charges, including perverting the course of justice by instigating a witness to give false information to the Police, criminal intimidation, and possessed offensive instrument without a lawful purpose.

Channel News Asia reported that Shaik was shouting threats outside an apartment in Ghim Moh Road earlier on 3 Sep 2019 and possessing a black metal pole unlawfully in Stirling Road on the same day.

Shaik is expecting to return to court on 30 Jan.