25 foreign job seekers to go to jail for giving forged certificates

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) charged 25 foreigners on Tuesday for furnishing false information to the Controller of Work Passes to obtain work passes.

According to a statement released by the ministry on Wednesday, the accused persons submitted forged academic certificates between May and August 2012.

All 25 accused pleaded guilty to the charges on Tuesday.

Of the 25, 20 were sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment.

The remaining five accused were fined S$5,000, but as they were unable to pay up their fines, they will be serving the default sentence of 20 days' jail.

All the accused did not possess university degree qualifications and the forged academic certificates were knowingly used to mislead MOM into issuing them with the work passes, the ministry said.

This is the largest number of individuals brought to court so far this year for this offence.

In its statement, MOM also said it is the responsibility of all applicants to make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes.

It added that members of the public who have information of persons or employers who contravene the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act should report the matter to MOM.

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