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Operations manager convicted and sentenced for collecting kickbacks from migrant workers

Foreign manpower

Ho Chiak Hock Derrick (“Ho”), a 55-year-old Singaporean, has been convicted under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) for collecting kickbacks from 57 migrant workers on multiple occasions from 2014 to 2020. He was sentenced today to 24 weeks’ imprisonment.

2    Ho faced a total of 61 charges under the EFMA for the collection of kickbacks. He pleaded guilty today to 20 charges, with the remaining 41 charges taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing.

Case Details

3 Ho was a former operations manager of conservancy company Lian Cheng Contracting Pte Ltd (“Lian Cheng”). Ho illegally collected kickbacks from Lian Cheng’s migrant workers under his charge for the renewal of their work permits and continued employment in Lian Cheng, with amounts ranging between $1,500 and $15,500 collected from each worker. Ho had collected kickbacks from the workers directly or through his former colleague, Rakibul, and three migrant workers – Shamim, Dhar Newton and Ahamed Rana – under his charge. These migrant workers, who held roles as area supervisors or site managers, have been warned and barred from working in Singapore.

4 In total, Ho collected $396,440 from 57 migrant workers of the company from 2014 to 2020. Lian Cheng’s management was unaware of Ho’s criminal activities, and Ho had acted of his own accord in implementing the collections.

MOM Takes Firm Actions Against Kickbacks

5 Mr Adrian Quek, Divisional Director at the Ministry of Manpower’s ("MOM") Foreign Manpower Management Division, said: “This is one of the largest cases of kickbacks investigated by MOM to date. We take a serious view of employers demanding payments from workers as a condition of employment, which is reprehensible and illegal. MOM will continue to take firm action against errant individuals and companies, including barring them from applying for or renewing work passes.”

6 Migrant workers who believe that they are giving kickbacks can seek help by contacting MOM (Tel: 6438 5122 or via go.gov.sg/reportinfringement) or calling the Migrant Workers’ Centre at 6536 2692. Members of the public who are aware of suspicious employment activities, or who know of persons or employers who contravene the EFMA, should report the matter to MOM. All information will be kept strictly confidential.