# filipina Worker Sentenced for 12-year Illegal Employment Scheme in Singapore
A foreign domestic worker in Singapore has been sentenced to 16 weeks in jail and a S$25,000 fine after working illegally as a part-time cleaner for over 12 years, amassing an estimated S$296,000 (US$232,500) in illicit earnings. Maya Clarina Santos Tagapan, 51, pleaded guilty to charges of working without a valid work pass and violating the conditions of her existing permit. She faces an additional five weeks in jail if unable to pay the fine, as resolute on Tuesday, February 3.
Decades of Deception
The case, which unfolded in court, reveals a complex scheme initiated in 2010. Tagapan initially connected with a Singaporean woman, Judy Gan, while performing part-time work. When Tagapan’s original employer prepared to leave Singapore, she sought Gan’s assistance in “sponsoring” her employment, effectively allowing her to remain in the country and continue working.
Gan, 47, agreed to employ Tagapan, establishing an arrangement where Tagapan would handle housework from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Crucially, the agreement allowed Tagapan to independently seek additional part-time cleaning work for the remainder of the week.Gan agreed to cover Tagapan’s levy, but Tagapan would reimburse her S
