On 13 September 2024, a 41-year-old Vietnamese woman, Le Thuy Trieu (“Le”), was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment and fined $4,000 for arranging a marriage of convenience (MOC) between a 52-year-old Singaporean man, Hoo Kee Hwa (“Hoo”), and 32-year-old Vietnamese woman, Vuong Thi My Tuyen (“Vuong”) to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore.

2.          Investigations revealed that Le offered to arrange a sham marriage between Hoo and a Vietnamese woman sometime in 2016 so that the latter would have a higher chance of extending her stay in Singapore. In return, Hoo would receive a sum of about S$8,000 to S$10,000. Le also proposed for Hoo to remain in the MOC for three years, after which a divorce would be arranged. Due to his gambling habits and need for money at that time, Hoo took up the offer.

3.          Concurrently, Le got acquainted with Vuong’s mother, Luong Thi My Hang (“Luong”) and broached the idea of Vuong entering into a MOC with Hoo. Luong and Vuong agreed to the proposal.

4.          The marriage was solemnised on 19 August 2016, but was never consummated. Luong paid Le S$16,000 for her role in the MOC. Of this S$16,000, Le paid Hoo S$10,000 for engaging in the MOC and kept the remaining S$6,000. 

5.           In addition, Hoo received about S$400 to S$500 per month from Vuong for being a sponsor of her Visit Pass applications and extensions to prolong her stay in Singapore.

6.          On 8 February 2022, Hoo and Vuong were arrested following a check by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers that Vuong did not stay at their declared place of residence. The couple were convicted of charges under the Immigration Act and were sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment, with a fine of S$8,000 each in November and October 2022 respectively. Luong was arrested when she entered Singapore in February 2023 and was also sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for her offence.

7.          ICA will continue to take firm enforcement action against errant couples and middlemen. The penalty for the MOC offence is a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both. For making false statements to obtain immigration facilities, the penalty is a fine not exceeding S$4,000 or an imprisonment term not exceeding 12 months, or both. Members of the public are encouraged/advised to report any suspected cases of MOC, as well as any other immigration-related offences at https://go.gov.sg/icafeedbackio.