Three jailed for submitting fake academic qualifications to apply for work passes

SINGAPORE — Three foreign nationals have been sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail each for submitting forged academic certificates when they applied for work passes, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Thursday (April 6).

Two of them were Indian nationals, while the third was a Vietnamese. A fourth foreign national, a Filipino woman, was also charged in court for a similar offence, but her case has been adjourned until April 27 for further mention.

The ministry said the four foreigners had obtained Employment Passes and S Passes to get jobs such as restaurant manager, assistant manager, chef and facility executive. 

An investigation by the MOM had revealed their academic certificates were forged.

According to the MOM, 73 foreigners were convicted and permanently barred from working in Singapore over the last two years for submitting forged academic certificates. 

The MOM said it conducts additional checks and verifications when foreigners apply for work passes here, which include verification of educational certificates through an internal education database system; and supplementing verification through either specialised third-party screening agencies; or checking directly with the issuing educational institution. 

The MOM also says that employers should ensure that their selection and recruitment processes of foreigners are “rigorous”. 

“They should check the authenticity and quality of their work pass applicant’s academic qualifications. MOM may also require employers to authenticate qualifications declared in work pass applications,” the ministry said in a press release.

“Employers and employment agencies who abet foreign applicants to submit forged documents will be severely dealt with,” the ministry added.

Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, anyone submitting forged academic certificates may be fined up to S$20,000 and/or be jailed up to two years.