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April 9, 2009
Worker syndicate smashed <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Derrick Ho and Melissa Sim </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
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Investigations revealed that the three Singaporeans were paid monthly salaries to front three companies used to recruit foreign workers from Bangladesh, India and China. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
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AN illegal labour supply syndicate was smashed on Tuesday in a joint effort between the Manpower Ministry and the police. Four men involved in the racket - three Singaporeans and a Bangladeshi - were arrested and were charged in court on Wednesday with more than 200 charges. The syndicate brought in around 100 workers who were mainly illegally deployed to other companies or told to find their own employment. The group, believed to be led by Shamsul Hoque Abdur Rahim, a work permit holder, then collected money from the workers or the companies to pay the levy.
Mr Shamsul Hoque, 40, faces 125 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. The other three accused are Singaporeans Ong Hock Beng, 41, Sim Thiam Huat, 52, and Choo Yam Siah, 56. Ong was charged with 36 counts for failing to supervise foreign workers under him. Sim faces 42 charges for providing false information by declaring he was the official employer of the workers and for failing to control them, while Choo is accused of 18 counts of providing false information and failing to control his workers.
Police and MOM said officers raided various homes on Tuesday , including a flat in Sin Ming Road housing work permit holders and an office in Golden Wall Centre. Investigations revealed that the three Singaporeans were paid monthly salaries to front three companies used to recruit foreign workers from Bangladesh, India and China. The syndicate collected a fee regularly from the companies where the workers were deployed, or from the workers themselves in order to pay the foreign worker levy. Under the EFMA, employers who contravene any of the conditions of the work pass face a fine of up to $5,000 or jail of up to six months, or both. For illegal employment, a first time offender faces a fine up to $15,000 or jail of up to one year, or both, for each worker. They will also have to repay levy evaded. Any person who provides false or misleading information to the Controller of Work Passes or an employment inspector also faces a fine not exceeding $15,000 and jail of up to a year.
April 9, 2009
Worker syndicate smashed <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Derrick Ho and Melissa Sim </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
Investigations revealed that the three Singaporeans were paid monthly salaries to front three companies used to recruit foreign workers from Bangladesh, India and China. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
</td></tr> </tbody></table>
AN illegal labour supply syndicate was smashed on Tuesday in a joint effort between the Manpower Ministry and the police. Four men involved in the racket - three Singaporeans and a Bangladeshi - were arrested and were charged in court on Wednesday with more than 200 charges. The syndicate brought in around 100 workers who were mainly illegally deployed to other companies or told to find their own employment. The group, believed to be led by Shamsul Hoque Abdur Rahim, a work permit holder, then collected money from the workers or the companies to pay the levy.
Mr Shamsul Hoque, 40, faces 125 charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. The other three accused are Singaporeans Ong Hock Beng, 41, Sim Thiam Huat, 52, and Choo Yam Siah, 56. Ong was charged with 36 counts for failing to supervise foreign workers under him. Sim faces 42 charges for providing false information by declaring he was the official employer of the workers and for failing to control them, while Choo is accused of 18 counts of providing false information and failing to control his workers.
Police and MOM said officers raided various homes on Tuesday , including a flat in Sin Ming Road housing work permit holders and an office in Golden Wall Centre. Investigations revealed that the three Singaporeans were paid monthly salaries to front three companies used to recruit foreign workers from Bangladesh, India and China. The syndicate collected a fee regularly from the companies where the workers were deployed, or from the workers themselves in order to pay the foreign worker levy. Under the EFMA, employers who contravene any of the conditions of the work pass face a fine of up to $5,000 or jail of up to six months, or both. For illegal employment, a first time offender faces a fine up to $15,000 or jail of up to one year, or both, for each worker. They will also have to repay levy evaded. Any person who provides false or misleading information to the Controller of Work Passes or an employment inspector also faces a fine not exceeding $15,000 and jail of up to a year.
