SINGAPORE: In exchange for investment funds, the former chief executive officer of a building solutions company agreed to apply for employment passes for two foreigners under his firm and its subsidiaries.
While doing so, he submitted false statements to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in relation to the hiring of the two foreigners.
Chu Sau Ben, 59, who helmed Libra Group Limited, was sentenced to a five-week jail term on Monday (Jun 30) after pleading guilty to a charge under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Two other charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing.
He served as director of Libra Group Limited, Libra Engineering and Libra Building Construction from 1997 until 2020. He was also CEO and executive chairman of these companies at the time of the offences.
Through its subsidiaries, Libra Group Limited mainly provided mechanical and electrical engineering services as a sub-contractor such as the installation of air-conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems.
In 2018, his companies began facing financial difficulties and he sought funds from investors in a bid to expand the business overseas.
The next year, he was introduced to a woman named Wang Jie, a director of Hai Sin International, which was in the business of helping clients buy over, invest in or start businesses in Singapore. It also engaged in programmes in China to persuade foreigners to invest in Singapore.
Wang told Chu that she would be able to introduce people who could invest in his companies, but in return, he would have to pledge part of his shares in his companies to these people in addition to applying for employment passes for them. Chu agreed.