http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_343718.html
'Phantom' workers: 9 charged
By Elena Chong & Carolyn Quek
NINE people from 21 businesses were charged in court on Friday with falsely declaring the number of local workers they employed to inflate their foreign worker entitlement.
The number of charges against the nine is 286. Among the offenders hauled to court were two men in the SME Group of companies which provides cleaning services.
Lim Chye Cheng, who will be charged later, and Steven Lee Kong Weng, 60, a director of the SME Group, face 101 charges each in a scam involving the 14 companies in the group.
A Ministry of Manpower statement on Friday said the arrests and prosecutions were the culmination of painstaking intelligence probes and investigation over the past few months. The SME Group has been placed under surveillance since late last year on suspicion of employing 'phantom' workers.
Earlier this month, a group of foreign nationals working for some companies under the group lodged complaints over salary arrears. Some of the arrears have since been settled with MOM intervention. Action is underway to help the workers get their remaining salary arrears and to facilitate their return home.
Eight others involved in construction, marine, logistics, restaurant and manufacturing businesses were also charged with similar offences.
They are: Toh Eng Hock, 69, (28 charges); Teong Tye Soon, 39, (39); Tan Cheng Cheng, 34, (25); Chew Beng Huat, 54, (15); Jamali Bakran, 49, (20); Lim Chek Chee, 47, (13); Woon Siew Chor @ Mun Siew Chor, 69, (35); and Sulaiman Abdullah @ Tommy Goh Beng Hock, 66, (10).
All the cases were adjourned to March. Some had their MOM bails extended while others were granted bail of $20,000 to $50,000. MOM said it has put in place stringent processes and checks to flag out unusual company profiles. On-site checks are being done to ascertain if the employees are indeed working for the company.
It warns employers who have hired 'phantom' workers to stop immediately or face the full consequences of the law.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, inflating the foreign worker entitlement by falsely declaring the number of local workers is punishable with a fine of up to $15,000 or 12 months' jail or both.
'Phantom' workers: 9 charged
By Elena Chong & Carolyn Quek
NINE people from 21 businesses were charged in court on Friday with falsely declaring the number of local workers they employed to inflate their foreign worker entitlement.
The number of charges against the nine is 286. Among the offenders hauled to court were two men in the SME Group of companies which provides cleaning services.
Lim Chye Cheng, who will be charged later, and Steven Lee Kong Weng, 60, a director of the SME Group, face 101 charges each in a scam involving the 14 companies in the group.
A Ministry of Manpower statement on Friday said the arrests and prosecutions were the culmination of painstaking intelligence probes and investigation over the past few months. The SME Group has been placed under surveillance since late last year on suspicion of employing 'phantom' workers.
Earlier this month, a group of foreign nationals working for some companies under the group lodged complaints over salary arrears. Some of the arrears have since been settled with MOM intervention. Action is underway to help the workers get their remaining salary arrears and to facilitate their return home.
Eight others involved in construction, marine, logistics, restaurant and manufacturing businesses were also charged with similar offences.
They are: Toh Eng Hock, 69, (28 charges); Teong Tye Soon, 39, (39); Tan Cheng Cheng, 34, (25); Chew Beng Huat, 54, (15); Jamali Bakran, 49, (20); Lim Chek Chee, 47, (13); Woon Siew Chor @ Mun Siew Chor, 69, (35); and Sulaiman Abdullah @ Tommy Goh Beng Hock, 66, (10).
All the cases were adjourned to March. Some had their MOM bails extended while others were granted bail of $20,000 to $50,000. MOM said it has put in place stringent processes and checks to flag out unusual company profiles. On-site checks are being done to ascertain if the employees are indeed working for the company.
It warns employers who have hired 'phantom' workers to stop immediately or face the full consequences of the law.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, inflating the foreign worker entitlement by falsely declaring the number of local workers is punishable with a fine of up to $15,000 or 12 months' jail or both.
