The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) announced in a statement yesterday that it has uncovered a fraud scheme at a continuing education centre, which targeted subsidies from the Education and Youth Development Bureau’s (DSEDJ) Continuing Education Development Plan
According to the statement, an investigation showed that between July 2024 and July 2025 the centre ran a raft of subsidised courses. The two individuals in charge of the centre offered cash rebates equivalent to half of the total tuition fees to entice over 40 residents to enrol, the statement said, adding that some of them even took their family members’ identity cards without telling them in order to register them for the courses and obtain the cash rebates.
The investigation also discovered that more than half of the enrolled residents did not attend any classes, the statement said, adding that the two individuals in charge of the centre had also told those who signed up that there was no need to actually attend the lessons.
According to the statement, the cases involving the 42 suspects have meanwhile been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), each facing charges of computer forgery, fraud, and using other people’s identification documents for illicit purposes.
Meanwhile, the Education and Youth Development Bureau announced in a follow-up statement that it is “highly concerned” about the case, which led the bureau to introduce further measures for its 2026-2029 “Continuing Education Development Plan”.
According to the statement, for learners with poor attendance rates, a “pay first, claim later” system has been adopted: only those with an attendance rate of 70 percent or above may apply for the reimbursement of subsidies. The measures aim to safeguard and monitor learners’ attendance, the statement said.
This image downloaded from the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) website yesterday shows its official logo.
