Some of these workers sold their homes and took huge loans, just to come to Singapore to make an honest living.

Fettered by their innocence and ignorance of the due process of law, and with no one to turn to for appropriate advice, these workers are easy prey, and often end up with a jail term and four strokes of the rotan before they are deported to their home countries -empty-handed and dejected victims of unscrupulous and despicable agents.

Such agents are not easily caught. When they are, they should be punished severely.

The authorities should also refer these foreign workers to approved employment agents so they can seek gainful employment, at least while they are helping the authorities in their investigations.

When someone is desperate, without money, food and a roof over his head, he may become a menace to society.

Randy Philip Ho Kam Seng