SINGAPORE — A 42-year-old woman found herself on the wrong side of the law after she was sentenced to one week in jail for lying about her address to secure priority admission for her daughter in a well-known primary school.
The case revealed a series of calculated deceptions that the woman employed, which caught the scrutiny of the authorities.
Details of the Case
The woman pleaded guilty to two charges: giving false information to public servants and misreporting her change of address. She was sentenced on 13 November 2024, and due to a gag order, her identity and that of the school remain undisclosed.
- The woman owned a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, which she had been leasing out to tenants.
- During the 2023 Primary 1 registration, she used her rented flat’s address, which was within a 1km radius necessary for priority admission.
- After attempting to change her registration to her partner’s address—located over 2km away—she was informed that it would violate the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) 30-month stay requirement.
Actions Taken
In August 2024, when confronted by the school’s vice-principal to verify her address, the woman resorted to instructing her tenants to falsely claim that she and her daughter lived at the flat. Despite several home checks by school staff, the tenants were the only ones present.
Sentencing Insights
Judge Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz highlighted the seriousness of the offence, emphasising the integrity of the education system and the potential harm caused by such dishonesty. While the prosecution recommended a fine of S$10,000, the judge opted for a custodial sentence instead, citing the aggravating nature of the deception and its impact on the integrity of the school admissions process.
“Such offences risk depriving deserving children of educational opportunities,” the judge stated.
Response to the Sentence
Upon learning of her sentence, the woman expressed despair, pleading for another chance and citing her responsibilities as a caregiver. She mentioned her daughter’s need for daily medication, but the judge upheld the decision, reiterating the importance of integrity in parenting and education.
In light of a rising trend in false admissions where parents have been caught attempting similar deceptions, this case serves as a stark reminder of the repercussions of dishonesty.