Four Work Pass Holders charged for submitting forged academic certificates

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) charged four work pass holders¹ in the State Courts today for submitting forged academic certificates to the Controller of Work Passes (“Controller”) in their work pass applications. 
2. Three accused persons pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment. The case against the last accused person had been adjourned for further mention². 
   Two Employment Passes and Two S Passes Fraudulently Obtained
3. Investigations revealed that four foreigners used forged academic certificates to fraudulently apply, obtain and renew their Employment Passes (EP) and S Passes. Using these work passes, they held jobs such as restaurant manager, assistant manager, chef and facility executive. 
4. Subsequent verification by MOM with the academic institutions revealed that the academic certificates were forged. 
5. Commenting on the case, Mr Kandhavel Periyasamy, Director of Employment Inspectorate at MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division, said, “Using forged educational certificates to obtain work passes is a serious offence. We will prosecute the foreigners and permanently bar them from working in Singapore.”
   Employers Have Primary Responsibility to Ensure Quality of Foreign Workers
6. Employers need to ensure that their selection and recruitment processes of foreigners are rigorous. They should check the authenticity and quality of their work pass applicant’s academic qualifications. 
   Measures In Place to Deter Foreigners from Using False Academic Certificates
7. As an additional safeguard, MOM conducts additional checks and verifications on applications. These include verification of educational certificates through our internal education database system, and supplementing verification through either specialised third-party screening agencies or checking directly with the issuing educational institution. MOM may also require employers to authenticate qualifications declared in work pass applications. 
8. Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, anyone submitting forged academic certificates may be fined up to $20,000, and /or imprisoned for up to two years.
9. In the last two years³, 73 foreigners were convicted and permanently barred from working in Singapore. 
   Advisory to Work Pass Applicants and Employers 
10. All applicants for work passes must make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes. If they are found submitting forged academic certificates, they will be prosecuted and permanently debarred from working in Singapore. 
11. Employers and employment agencies who abet foreign applicants to submit forged documents will be severely dealt with.
12. Members of the public who know of such offences should report the matter to MOM at Tel: (65) 6438 5122 or email mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg. All information will be kept strictly confidential.