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Two Foreigners Jailed For Obtaining Work Passes Through False Declaration

Foreign manpower
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted two Indian nationals, Ramasamy Alagu Pandian and his wife Alagu Pandian Latha for falsely declaring their educational qualifications in their Employment Pass (EP) applications.

2.   On 27 March 2008, the High Court dismissed the appeals against the sentences by Ramasamy and his wife, Latha and affirmed the imprisonment sentences which were earlier imposed by the Subordinate Court on 28 December 2007. Ramasamy was sentenced to eight weeks of imprisonment for abetting his wife, Latha in her EP application using a forged Masters degree1. He was also fined $4000 for making a false declaration in his own EP application. Latha was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment for furnishing false information in her EP application.

Facts of the Case

3.   Ramasamy applied for an EP to work as a managing director for Idea Precision Engineering (S) Pte Ltd in April 2005. Investigations revealed that Ramasamy had submitted a forged Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the P.S.G. College of Technology & Polytechnic, India in his EP application.

4.   Investigations also revealed that Ramasamy had provided his wife Latha a forged Masters degree from the University of Madras in order to obtain an EP to work as a chief executive accountant at Appollo Sellappa S. In addition, Ramasamy had also supplied forged certificates to two other Indian nationals for their EP applications.

5.   Mr Aw Kum Cheong, Divisional Director of the Foreign Manpower Management Division, MOM said: “While MOM processes work pass applications expeditiously to support the needs of businesses, it has also enhanced its capability to detect fraudulent applications. We will not hesitate to apply the full force of the law on anyone who attempts to obtain work passes through illegal means. Employers who are involved will also be barred from hiring foreign workers.”

6.   Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), making a false declaration in a work pass application is punishable with a fine not exceeding $15,000 and/or up to one year's jail, or both. In addition, an employer, foreign employee or self-employed foreigner who fails to notify MOM after being aware of any false information submitted as part of their work pass application, will face a fine of up to $5,000 or up to 6 months' jail or both.

 

 

 

1Another three charges were taken into consideration during sentencing, including two charges for supplying forged certificates to two other Indian nationals for their EP applications. Ramasamy was also sentenced to four weeks imprisonment for making a false declaration in his application for permanent residence in Singapore. The Court ordered both sentences to run concurrently.