Ministry of Manpower announced that a director of a shell company was sentenced in the State Courts to seven months’ imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining work passes for five foreign workers. In the recent press release on Thursday (Mar 22), MOM has also permanently barred him from employing foreign workers.

Teo Hwee Lip, 42-year-old, the Director of Triyon Corporation Pte Ltd was charged with a total of five counts under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA) for importation of labour between December 2014 and January 2015.

From the investigations, it is found that Teo partnered with Yan Ping to obtain work passes for foreign workers without real intention to employ them. Teo arranged with Yan to register himself as the Director of Triyon Corporation, a fake shell company that did not carry out any business activity. Then he falsely declared to MOM that foreign workers would be employed by the company as construction workers. MOM is currently investigating Yan’s case.

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Teo was promised $300 for every successful work pass application made by the company. In total, he received $1,500 for obtaining work passes for five illegal Chinese workers. They were then asked to find their own employment. Teo was also ordered to pay the illegal proceeds unlawfully gained by him.

Commenting on the case, Director of Employment Inspectorate at MOM’s Foreign Manpower Management Division Kandhavel Periyasamy said, “Individuals must not be complicit or allow themselves to be used by others to bring in foreign workers illegally. It is a serious offence to set up shell companies and to profit from fraudulent work pass applications. If convicted, individuals can be fined, imprisoned and/or caned.”

According to the EFMA, those who illegally obtain work passes for foreign workers for a non-existent business and fails to provide any work for the employees can be sentenced to imprisonment for six months or more, and pay fine of up to $6,000 for each offence. If convicted of six or more charges at the same trial, caning may also be imposed. MOM will ban the offender and company from employing new foreign workers and not grant any work pass renewals.

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