MOM charges five Singaporeans for alleged involvement in illegal labour importation case

13 shell companies, allegedly established under the names of these five Singaporeans, were non-operational, did not require foreign workers, and failed to employ them upon their arrival in Singapore.

Singapore's ⁠Ministry of Manpower (MOM) charged five Singaporean men with offences related to the illegal importation of labour under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).

The accused are alleged to have conspired to submit work pass applications for foreigners using shell companies in exchange for money, the ministry said on Thursday (25 July 2024), the same day the charges were made.

Details on the case are as follows: 

Shell Companies

13 shell companies, allegedly established under the names of these five Singaporeans, were non-operational, did not require foreign workers, and failed to employ them upon their arrival in Singapore.

Key individuals involved

The accused are 

1.  Tan Tai Ji
2. Leong Kwai Tong
3. Sim Kian Boon, Terence 
4. Neo Hock Guan Roy
5. Cheng Tee Howe

Foreigners involved

A total of 17 foreigners have also been charged under the EFMA. Most have been accused of allegedly obtaining work passes through these companies without intending to work. 10 of these foreigners have already been convicted and sentenced. 

Legal penalties

• For submitting false work pass applications
    - Imprisonment: Six months to two years
    - Fine: Up to S$6,000 per charge
    - Additional Penalty: Caning for six or more charges
• For employing foreigners without valid work passes
    - Fine: S$5,000 to S$30,000
    - Imprisonment: Up to 12 months
    - MOM may also bar them from employing foreign workers.
• For Foreigners Working Without a Valid Work Pass
    - Fine: Up to S$20,000
    - Imprisonment: Up to two years
    - MOM will bar them from working in Singapore.

In lieu of the above, the ministry has called on members of the public who notice suspicious employment activities, such as foreigners obtaining work passes under false pretences or working without valid passes, to lodge a report to MOM, confidentially, via email.

READ MORE: Singaporean woman charged with 33 counts of employing foreigners without valid work passes