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Two individuals convicted for making false declarations in work permit applications

Turla Teresa Espeleta (“Teresa”), a 50-year-old Filipino woman and Tungol Renato Reyes (“Renato”), a 52-year-old Singaporean man, have been convicted for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 (“EFMA”). Teresa was sentenced today to 25 weeks’ imprisonment, and Renato was sentenced earlier on 8 May 2025 to 19 weeks’ imprisonment.

2 Teresa faced a total of 11 charges under the EFMA for making false declarations in work permit applications and working without a valid work pass. She pleaded guilty to four charges of making a false declaration in her work permit application, with the remaining seven charges taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing. Another charge under the Penal Code of furnishing false information to a public servant was also taken into consideration during sentencing. 

3 Renato faced a total of seven charges under the EFMA for making false declarations in work permit applications. He pleaded guilty to three charges, with the remaining four charges taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing.

Case Details

4 Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM”) revealed that Renato and Teresa conspired to make false declarations to the Controller of Work Passes in several work permit applications between 2010 and 2022, stating that Teresa would be employed as a migrant domestic worker (“MDW”) by Renato at his residence. As Renato and Teresa entered into a romantic relationship sometime in 2010, they committed the offences in order for Teresa to stay and work in Singapore, and for them to reside together.

5 During this period, Teresa was not employed by Renato as an MDW. Instead, she worked illegally in various occupations such as waitressing and part-time cleaning. She was also given monthly allowances by Renato to sustain her living expenses in Singapore.

6 Teresa also made allegations of abuse by Renato, and these claims were untrue. Police investigations revealed that Teresa had furnished false information in her statement to the Police on 28 February 2023.

7 It is an offence to provide false information to a public servant under Section 177 of the Penal Code. If convicted, an offender can face an imprisonment term which may extend to six months, a fine with may extend to $5,000, or both.

Advisory to Employers and Work Pass Applicants

8 All employers and work pass applicants must make accurate, complete and truthful declarations to the Controller of Work Passes in work pass applications under the EFMA. Making false declarations is a serious offence. If convicted, an offender can be fined up to $20,000, or jailed for up to two years, or both. Errant employers will have their work pass privileges suspended, and the work pass applicant will also be permanently barred from working in Singapore.

9 Under the EFMA, MDWs are only allowed to perform household and domestic duties for the official employer at the residential address stated in the work pass application. We remind employers not to engage in romantic relationships with their MDWs, as the power imbalance in the employer-employee relationship may result in MDWs feeling coerced. 

10 Members of public who are aware of suspicious employment activities such as MDWs working without a valid work pass, or know of persons or employers who contravene the EFMA should report the matter to MOM via MOM’s eService “Report an infringement”. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential.