Employment agency personnel convicted for fraudulently obtaining work permit for foreigner

Lee Peck Li (“Lee”), a 44-year-old Singaporean man and key appointment holder of employment agency (“EA”) C1EA Pte. Ltd. was convicted today for engaging in a conspiracy to make a false declaration in the work pass application for a foreign employee. Another charge for making a false statement was also taken into consideration during sentencing. He was sentenced to 4 weeks’ imprisonment under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (Cap. 91A, 2009 Rev Ed) ("EFMA"). Following the conviction, Lee has been barred from the employment agency industry.

Case details

2 In September 2021, Lee was contacted by an overseas agent to facilitate the employment of a foreigner, Li Guiyu (“Li”). Li had planned to enter Singapore to search for odd jobs. Lee agreed to fraudulently obtain a work pass for Li in the expectation that in future, there would be work pass application referrals from the overseas agent, from whom he would earn commissions.

3 Lee then conspired with the overseas agent, Li, and Chia Chen Ngee, the director of Liquidlab Communication Pte Ltd (“Liquidlab”), to obtain a work permit for Li. Lee, in his capacity as a key appointment holder of the EA, submitted a work permit application stating that Li would be employed as a sales representative by Liquidlab Communication Pte Ltd, which he knew was false. Liquidlab had no intention to employ Li, and Li had no intention to work for the company. In October 2021, Li was issued with a work permit and arrived in Singapore to source for her own jobs without performing any work for Liquidlab. Li was arrested by the Police on 17 November 2021 for engaging in vice activities. She was issued a stern warning and subsequently repatriated. Li has also been barred from working in Singapore.

Advisory to Employment Agencies and Employers

4 All EAs and employers are required to make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes in their work pass applications. Making false declarations is a serious offence. If convicted, an offender can be fined up to $20,000, or jailed for up to 2 years, or both. Errant employers will have their work pass privileges suspended, and the work pass applicant will also be barred from working in Singapore.

5 Members of the public who are aware of suspicious employment activities such as illegal deployment of MDWs, or who know of persons or employers who have contravened the EFMA, should report the matter to MOM at mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg. All information will be kept strictly confidential.