The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) charged 25 foreigners yesterday for furnishing false information to the Controller of Work Passes by submitting forged academic certificates to obtain work passes in Singapore.

This is the largest number of individuals brought to court so far this year for this offence, MOM said in a statement.

They were charged under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

All 25 accused pleaded guilty to the charges. Of the 25, 20 were sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment. The remaining five accused were fined S$5,000 or in default to 20 days’ imprisonment.

As these five accused were unable to pay up their fines, they would be serving the default sentence.

In the first half of 2013, a total of 28 offenders were convicted. The majority of these offenders were jailed for up to four weeks by the court.

- Bernama