Over 300 foreign job-seekers duped by two Singaporean businessmen in job scam

SINGAPORE — Two Singaporean businessmen are facing a total of 442 charges in connection with using three sham companies to fraudulently collect fees from over 300 foreign job-seekers. No jobs were on offer.

Terry Tan-Soo I-Hse, 39, and Clarence Lim Jun Yao, 30, had submitted a total of 449 work pass applications to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), but only four work passes were approved.

MOM later initiated investigations on Tan-Soo, who was the director of an employment agency – Asia Recruit — now known as Alliance Recruit, and Lim, who was the director of Asiajobmart, and UUBR International (now known as Connectsia).

The two men were also investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) of the Singapore Police Force for fraudulent trading under the Companies Act.

Both were jointly charged by the CAD and MOM on Friday (Oct 20).

MOM has since banned Mr Lim’s companies, Asiajobmart and UUBR, from employing any new foreign workers, and from renewing any work passes.

The licence for Mr Tan-Soo’s employment agency has also been suspended, MOM said in a statement on Friday (Oct 20).

Under the Companies Act, both men may each be jailed for up to seven years, or fined of up to S$15,000, or both, per charge. For false declaration offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, they may each be imprisoned for up to two years, or fined of up to S$20,000, or both, per charge.

In addition, breaching the licensing conditions under the Employment Agencies Act may land each in jail for six months, or a fine of up to S$5,000, or both, per charge. Their employment agency licence will also be revoked.

MOM has advised job seekers not to pay fees to their employment agencies until they have secured the jobs.