Reported in The Straits Times on Nov 14, 2024
In one of Singapore’s largest kickback cases involving foreign workers, Derrick Ho Chiak Hock, 55, was sentenced to 24 weeks’ jail on November 14 for collecting nearly $400,000 in fees from migrant workers to renew their work passes.
Ho, an operations manager at Lian Cheng Contracting, demanded payments of $1,500 to $3,000 per worker between 2014 and 2020, with workers earning only $350 to $500 monthly. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) found $326,305 in cash at Ho’s residence during a raid in 2020, highlighting the scale of the illegal scheme.
Represented by Ms. Gloria James, Ho expressed regret, having made partial restitution of $69,135, and requested no more than 24 weeks’ jail. Ms. James emphasised his modest lifestyle and ongoing financial struggles. The prosecution, however, argued that Ho’s actions were purely driven by greed, exploiting vulnerable workers and seeking a harsher sentence of 24 to 30 weeks to reflect the gravity of the case.
SENTENCE
The court sentenced Ho to 24 weeks’ jail, with MOM reinforcing that strict action will be taken against individuals exploiting foreign workers in Singapore.
Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/24-weeks-jail-for-man-who-demanded-nearly-400000-from-foreign-workers-to-renew-work-passes
