General Manager Fined $15,000 For Making False Declarations of Salaries

2.   Lim Meng Eng was convicted of three charges under the Employment of Foreign Workers Act on 25 September 2007 and fined $15,000 for furnishing false information to the Controller of Work Passes. Another three charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. Both Lim Meng Eng and Starprint Productions Pte Ltd will also be debarred from hiring foreign workers.

FACTS OF THE CASE

3.   Investigations by MOM revealed that between January 2006 and December 2006, Lim Meng Eng had submitted fraudulent S Pass applications for six foreigners to work as technicians for Starprint Production Pte Ltd. The foreigners were paid monthly salaries of $800 during their employment between February 2006 to May 2007, instead of $1,800 as declared by Lim in the S Pass application forms.

FALSE DECLARATION OF INFORMATION

4.   Mr Aw Kum Cheong, Divisional Director of the Foreign Manpower Management Division, MOM said: "The minimum salary requirement is one of the key criteria used by the Ministry to assess S pass applications. Any person who attempts to obtain work passes by making false declarations will be charged in court."

5.   Since 1 July 2007, the penalties for such offences have been enhanced under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). Those convicted will face a fine not exceeding $15,000 and/ or imprisonment up to one year, or both. It is also an offence under the EFMA if any employer, foreign employee or self-employed foreigner fails to notify the Ministry if they are aware of any false information being submitted as part of the work pass application. The offender will face a fine of up to $5,000 or up to 6 months' jail or both.