Full Breakdown
Employment Agent Sentenced for Illegal Work Permit Scheme in Singapore
2/25/2026, 12:51:49 PM
Overview of the Scheme
In Singapore, Josephine Santos Ho, a 61-year-old employment agent, was sentenced to 23 weeks in jail for orchestrating an illegal scheme to sell domestic worker permits to foreign nationals who did not intend to work as maids. The prosecution revealed that Ho collaborated with another woman, Jennifer Choo Joo Kheng, to facilitate this operation, which involved obtaining work permits for three foreign women in exchange for fees ranging from S$5,000 (US$3,950) to S$11,600 each.
Details of the Operation
Ho, who was the key appointment holder at Expert Business Management & Consultancy, devised the scheme in 2018. She was responsible for sourcing foreign workers, while Choo identified local individuals willing to lend their names as employers. The foreign workers, once enrolled in the scheme, would pay a fee, which would be divided among Ho, Choo, and the local individuals posing as their employers.
In January 2021, Choo facilitated the employment of a foreigner named Josill Maratas David, who paid S$7,500 to join the scheme. Josill was issued a work permit indicating she would be employed as a domestic worker but instead worked as a part-time waitress and freelance cleaner for approximately 11 months until her permit was canceled.
Additional Participants and Legal Consequences
Two other foreign women, Divina Xeres Cabuay Onzana and Perez Lovella Reybuenan, also participated in the scheme, paying S$5,000 and S$11,600 respectively. Divina worked under her permit for over a year before obtaining another permit under the same illegal scheme, while Perez's employment lasted only four months.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) initiated an investigation in August 2022 after receiving reports of potential violations of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, leading to Ho's arrest. The prosecutor emphasized that Ho's actions severely compromised the integrity of MOM's work pass framework, as the scheme involved the sale of work permits for financial gain.
Sentencing and Responses
Ho pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, with an additional eight charges considered during sentencing. Alongside her prison sentence, she was ordered to pay a penalty of S$3,000, equivalent to her proceeds from the crime. Josill, Divina, and Perez also received jail sentences for their roles in the scheme, with Josill serving six weeks, Divina ten weeks, and Perez three weeks. Choo is expected to plead guilty for her involvement later this week.
Criticism of the Scheme
Critics have pointed out that the scheme not only violated labor laws but also exploited vulnerable foreign workers seeking employment in Singapore. The prosecutor highlighted the aggravating factor of Ho's position within an employment agency, which should have made her aware of the illegality of her actions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Her actions were aggravated by the fact that she worked in an employment agency and would have known that the scheme was illegal.” — Prosecutor
This case underscores the ongoing challenges in regulating foreign labor and ensuring compliance with employment laws in Singapore.
