Man who hired girlfriend as his maid to extend her stay in Singapore gets jail

For almost four months from early March 2024 to early July 2024, Jennie stayed at Faizal’s home “as his girlfriend” for four to five nights per week. She did not perform any domestic helper duties at his home, the prosecutor said.

Instead, Jennie worked as a babysitter for someone else and spent two to three nights per week at that location.

Faizal was aware of this and facilitated the arrangements by giving his consent for her to work as a babysitter while maintaining a work permit under his name, the court heard.

The Ministry of Manpower prosecutor sought four weeks’ jail for Faizal, while defence lawyers Mr Anil Singh Sandhu and Mr Nurhan Sufi sought two weeks instead.

Mr Anil said Faizal has been divorced since 2008 and has been the sole caregiver to his only son.

The operations technician supports himself and his son, and met Jennie in 2021 during the COVID-19 period, said the lawyer.

Jennie was sentenced to three weeks’ jail on Sep 1 for her part in the sham arrangement. 

IT WAS JENNIE’S IDEA: DEFENCE

Mr Anil said Faizal “makes no excuses” for the mistake he has made, but said it was Jennie who suggested the idea and Faizal initially rejected her.

However, he “regrettably” gave in to her after she made further pleas.

While Jennie performed household chores at Faizal’s home, these were done in her capacity as his girlfriend and not as a domestic helper, the lawyer said.

Faizal also paid Jennie S$700 (US$540) per month, although he gave her more at times, and he paid the required levy until Jennie’s work permit was cancelled, said Mr Anil.

He said his client acted “not out of greed or intent to exploit, but out of a misguided desire to help someone he loved”.

The consequences of the offence have already “severely impacted” Faizal’s life, as Jennie will not be allowed re-entry into Singapore after serving her jail time and this is “likely to strike a death knell” to their relationship, which they had intended to formalise, said Mr Anil.

Jennie was the mastermind behind the offence and received financial gains from her babysitting job, whereas Faizal did not receive any financial benefit, said the lawyer.

The judge said that, in view of the three weeks’ jail Jennie had received, Faizal should receive at least three weeks’ jail and imposed the same.

For making a false statement to the controller of work passes, Faizal could have been jailed for up to two years, fined up to S$20,000, or both.