Background of the case
A Singaporean man was sentenced to three weeks in jail after pleading guilty to making a false statement to the controller of work passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Faizal Farid, 45, admitted to submitting an application that falsely stated his intention to employ his girlfriend, Jennie Villaron, as his domestic helper. The case illustrates the serious consequences of exploiting the domestic worker visa system to extend a stay in Singapore.
What happened
The couple began a romantic relationship in 2021. In February 2024, Jennie, a Filipina migrant domestic worker, told Faizal that her employer intended to terminate her contract. She asked if she could transfer under Faizal’s name to maintain her legal stay in Singapore. Faizal agreed and, on February 28, 2024, submitted an application for a domestic helper work permit under his name with the declaration that Jennie would be his household helper.
A work permit was subsequently issued on March 9, 2024. From March to July 2024, Jennie lived in Faizal’s home four to five nights a week, but she did not perform domestic helper duties there. Instead, she worked as a babysitter for someone else and spent two to three nights per week at that other location. Faizal freely allowed this arrangement, giving consent for her to work as a babysitter while the work permit remained under his name.
In court, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) prosecutor argued for a four-week sentence, while Faizal’s defense highlighted his circumstances and relationships. The defense emphasized that Jennie initiated the scheme, though Faizal ultimately went along with it, and that he acted with little financial gain beyond supporting his partner and their child.
The court accepted that Jennie had already received sentencing and sentenced Faizal to three weeks in jail, aligning with the punishment given to Jennie earlier in the case.
The legal elements and penalty
Faizal faced one count of making a false statement to the controller of work passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. A second charge—allowing his girlfriend to work as a part-time babysitter without a valid work pass—was considered in sentencing. A false-statement conviction carries potential penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. The judge chose a three-week custodial sentence, reflecting the court’s stance on falsifying work-pass documentation and exploiting the work-pass system for personal gain.
Reactions and broader context
The case has drawn attention to the vulnerability of migrant workers who rely on sponsorship or spousal-like arrangements to remain in Singapore. While the perpetrator argued that his actions were not financially motivated and were driven by a desire to help someone he cared about, Singapore’s immigration framework remains strict about who may work and under what conditions. The court noted that Jennie, who was the mastermind according to defense arguments, had her own financial interest in the babysitting arrangement, complicating the notion of a purely altruistic act.
What this means for future cases
This verdict underscores the serious repercussions of falsifying employment documents and exploiting work passes. Employers and foreign workers alike should adhere strictly to the rules governing work passes and domestic helper schemes. The case serves as a cautionary tale: attempts to circumvent immigration controls, even under personal circumstances, can lead to jail time and irreparable consequences for relationships and re-entry prospects.
