2 Filipinas jailed in Singapore for using forged university certificates
Fraudulent use of Employment Pass applications lands 2 women in city-state's jail
Manila: Two Filipino women were sentenced to jail in Singapore after using forged university certificates to obtain Employment Passes and work at a local retailer.
The Straits Times reported on July 17 that the Filipinas, both 29-year olds, were jailed for four and six weeks.
Case details
Conol Almira Joy Torres (29) – Received six weeks’ jail.
Torres Alyssa Riva Fernan (29) – Received four weeks’ jail.
Offences: Almira faced additional charges for declaring an inflated salary and falsifying documents for a prior job.
How the fraud was committed
Almira Joy Torres
Previously secured a job at "Ally Mcbean's Food Supply" using a Philippine agent known as "Cory."
In September 2020, Almira was told about a position at CL Enterprise (operator of Mr Fix retail outlets) as assistant sales manager, offering S$2,200 (about US$1,700) per month.
Almira attended an interview with director Tseng Yi Long Samuel and was told she would work at the Marine Parade outlet.
For her employment pass application, Almira submitted a forged “Bachelor of Science” certificate from Ateneo De Manila University and falsely declared a monthly salary of S$5,800 (about US$4,400).
She knew her real salary was only S$2,200, as communicated by both Cory and Mr Tseng.
Almira worked for 15 months (Nov 2020–Feb 2022), handling stock, sales, and cashier duties, and was paid in cash less than half the declared amount.
Alyssa Riva Fernan
Learnt about the job opportunity at CL Enterprise through cousin Almira and Cory.
Was offered the role of assistant operations manager, with Cory requesting S$4,500 (about US$3,400) upfront, prompting Alyssa to take a loan in the Philippines for payment.
Interviewed successfully in September 2020 and subsequently submitted a forged “Bachelor of Science” certificate from De La Salle University for her employment pass.
Began work at CL Enterprise from November 2020, with her pass issued in December. Alyssa earned S$2,160 (about US$1,670) monthly for 15 months performing inventory and cashiering duties.
Like Almira, her actual pay was much less than stated in official documents.
Detection and legal consequences
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) initiated an investigation in February 2022 after receiving information about possible breaches of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
MOM’s investigation revealed that had the true salary and educational qualifications been declared, neither woman would have qualified for an “employment pass”.
The women were only caught following a random inspection at CL Enterprise; otherwise, their offences may have gone undetected much longer.
The prosecution noted that such offences deprive other jobseekers of opportunities and sought jail sentences reflecting the seriousness and difficulty of detection.
What is an Employment Pass?
An Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore is a work visa issued to highly-skilled foreign professionals, managers, and executives who have a job offer from a Singapore-registered employee.
It enables the holder to legally work and live in Singapore under specific conditions. Typically, it requires a recognised university degree, professional qualifications, or specialised skills, along with relevant work experience.
Applicants must have a job offer from a Singapore-based company; only the employer (or an authorised agent) can apply for the EP on behalf of the applicant.
Minimum Salary: As of 2025, candidates must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$5,000 (about US$3,700), with higher thresholds for certain sectors and more experienced applicants.
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