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SINGAPORE: A construction worker lied to fellow migrant workers that he was a licensed employment agent in order to cheat them of their money.<\/p>\n
In all, Mondal Palus deceived 17 foreign workers into handing him more than S$35,000 (US$27,600).<\/p>\n
On Thursday (May 7), the Bangladeshi was sentenced to 13 months and three weeks’ jail.<\/p>\n
He pleaded guilty to five charges of cheating seven people by deceiving them into believing he was working in a licensed employment agency in Singapore and that he required money to apply for in-principle approval (IPA) for their relatives or secure employment.<\/p>\n
Another 10 charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.<\/p>\n
An IPA is required to bring migrant workers into Singapore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mondal, 35, told court through a Bengali interpreter that he wanted to plead guilty and that he just needed a ticket to go back home.<\/p>\n
His work permit was cancelled in February 2024 and he was issued a special pass to remain in Singapore.<\/p>\n
According to court documents, the offences took place on several occasions in 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n
Sometime in end-March 2023, three Bangladeshi men – Humayun, Rasel and Hossain – were introduced to the accused through the recommendation of a friend named Al Alam.<\/p>\n
Mondal claimed he could help their relatives in Bangladesh in finding a job here.<\/p>\n
He lied that he was working with a local licensed employment agency and asked the three men to send their relatives’ particulars and resumes, and transfer S$8,600 in total to his DBS bank account to apply for their IPAs.<\/p>\n
The accused knew that these were false, as he was only employed as a construction worker and could not apply for IPAs, court documents read.<\/p>\n
The three men followed his instructions and transferred money to his bank account between Apr 5, 2023 and Apr 17, 2023.<\/p>\n
About a month later, the three men did not hear back from the accused on the outcome of the IPAs and also lost contact with him. Mr Humayun lodged a police report on May 15, 2023, stating that he along with two others had been cheated by Mondal.<\/p>\n
In another incident in April 2023, another Bangladeshi national Hossain Md Akter was also introduced to Mondal through the friend named Al Alam.<\/p>\n
Mr Hossain Md Akter was asked to transfer S$1,400 for the accused to apply for an IPA, which he did between April 5, 2023 and April 9, 2023. He lodged a police report about three months later when he did not hear from Mondal.<\/p>\n
Three other men were cheated this way by Mondal, who either promised to help with the victims\u2019 IPA applications or find employment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In all the incidents, Mondal used the money he collected for his personal expenses.<\/p>\n
No money was recovered, although the offender made restitution of S$3,800 to Mr Humayun and S$600 to another victim in relation to one of the charges taken into consideration.<\/p>\n
Mondal was arrested by the police on Feb 10, 2025 and charged two days later.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The prosecution initially sought 12 months and three weeks’ jail for Mondal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For cheating, he could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n