Man Who Hired Girlfriend as Maid to Extend Her Stay Jailed

In a case that highlights the complexities of immigration laws, a Singaporean man has been sentenced to three weeks' jail for hiring his girlfriend as his maid on paper to help extend her stay in the city-state.

Faizal Farid, a 45-year-old Singaporean, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false declaration to the Controller of Work Passes on Monday (Oct 13). His lawyer had explained that Faizal paid his girlfriend at least S$700 a month on top of her maid levy and did not make any financial gain from the arrangement.

The court heard that Faizal and his girlfriend, who was working in Singapore on a valid work pass, entered into the arrangement as her pass was nearing expiration. By officially hiring her as a maid, they hoped to secure a new work permit for her through the Domestic Worker Work Pass scheme.

This case serves as a reminder of the strict Singaporean laws regarding employment passes and work permits. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has consistently stressed that such fraudulent schemes undermine the integrity of the work pass system and can lead to serious consequences for those involved.

While the defence highlighted the man's lack of financial motive, the prosecution noted that the offence was serious due to the deliberate circumvention of immigration laws. The three-week sentence reflects the seriousness with which Singaporean authorities treat such violations.

The outcome of this case may prompt others in similar situations to consider the legal risks of attempting to bypass immigration regulations, even when personal relationships are involved.

For full details, visit the original report on Channel News Asia.