In a previous CEAnergy case study, we related the story of how a real estate salesperson (RES) Sum Yusen (‘Sum’) – also known as Caleb – attempted to obtain Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits without personally attending CPD courses back in 2022.
How did he do so?
By persuading another RES to be his accomplice to attend online CPD courses on his behalf.
In this case study, we share about Jason Goh (‘Goh’), the accomplice who attended online CPD courses on Sum’s behalf.
Background on CPD Requirements
A quick recap: As a key component of CEA’s regulatory framework, the CPD requirement ensures that Key Executive Officers (KEOs) and RESs have the skillsets and critical competencies to carry out their duties effectively.
For the renewal of estate agent (EA) licence and RES registration, industry professionals, including KEOs and RESs, must fulfil the necessary CPD requirements by attending CPD courses personally.
How it started
In August 2022, Sum approached Goh and persuaded him to attend CPD courses on Sum’s behalf.
At that time, Sum was an RES with Huttons Asia Pte Ltd (Huttons), while Goh was an RES with PropNex Realty Pte Ltd (PropNex). Goh had become acquainted with Sum when he was with Huttons, before joining PropNex.
Goh agreed to Sum’s request, and signed up for two online CPD courses scheduled for early September 2022 on Sum’s behalf. The online CPD courses were conducted via the video conferencing software ‘Zoom’.
When the two CPD courses were held, Goh accessed Sum’s email inbox to retrieve the course details. He then attended the courses in Sum’s name via ‘Zoom’.
Thereafter, Sum reimbursed Goh for the course fees. Sum subsequently received certificates of attendance for the courses that Goh had attended on his behalf.
What happened to Sum
In November 2022, Sum submitted his application to CEA to renew his RES registration for year 2023. In his renewal application, Sum withheld the fact that he did not attend the two CPD courses personally.
Following a complaint, CEA investigated Sum and established that he had asked Goh to attend the CPD courses on his behalf.
Sum was charged by CEA and convicted in Court for an offence under Section 64(1)(a)(ii) of the Estate Agents Act 2010 (EAA) for having intentionally suppressed a material fact – that is, his ineligibility for renewal of his RES registration – in relation to his registration renewal application. A second charge was taken into consideration.
Sum was sentenced to a fine of $6,000.
Goh’s Conviction
CEA also investigated Goh for attending the online CPD courses on Sum’s behalf, thereby assisting Sum to circumvent the requirement of having to attend CPD courses personally.
For dishonestly agreeing to attend CPD courses on behalf of and pretending to be Sum, Goh was charged with breaching Paragraph 7(1) read with Paragraph 7(2)(a) of the Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care (CEPCC), under the First Schedule to the Estate Agents (Estate Agency Work) Regulations 2010, for doing an act that may bring discredit or disrepute to the estate agency industry.
He was convicted by a CEA Disciplinary Committee and imposed with a financial penalty of $20,000. One other charge was taken into consideration.
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Industry Perspective
by Edith Tay
Exco Member,
This is an interesting case. Some readers who come across this case might empathise and think that RES Goh was merely trying to be helpful to his friend.
But make no mistake, in today’s digital age, assuming another person’s identity online – with or without the intention to deceive or defraud – can lead to serious consequences.
In this case, it is clear that RES Sum had intended to deceive and circumvent the CPD requirement, and RES Goh was an accomplice in the acts of deception.
Such acts should not be tolerated, as we seek to raise the standard of trust and professionalism in the real estate agency industry.
While RESs ought to help fellow RESs who need a helping hand, they must not end up being a partner in crime and partake in acts that may tarnish the reputation of our industry.
We must always act ethically and honestly in everything that we do as RESs.
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Information accurate as at 3 Mar 2025