Domestic helper, 72, turns herself in after overstaying visa in Singapore for 34 years, gets six months’ jail, RM9,500 fine

The court heard that Flordeliza was unrepresented and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. During mitigation, she acknowledged that she was in the wrong and asked for leniency, Shin Min reported.

In a separate case heard on the same day, another Filipino domestic helper, 49-year-old Jo Ann Querabu Balbin, was also sentenced to six months’ jail and fined S$2,000 after pleading guilty to overstaying in Singapore for more than 16 years.

According to Shin Min, Jo Ann obtained a work permit on April 7, 2009, which was initially valid for nearly two years. However, her permit was cancelled just over a month later, on May 15 that year, after her employer likewise failed to pay the foreign worker levy. 

She subsequently remained in Singapore illegally for 16 years, six months and five days, before turning herself in to the authorities on December 4.

The prosecution sought the maximum six-month jail term for both women, with caning — which can be imposed for immigration offences — substituted with fines of S$3,000 for Flordeliza and S$2,000 for Jo Ann.