They were Tan Cheng Lim, 62, Ong Tian Lai, 42, Tye Boi Yok, 51, Yap Rogers, 56, Mohamed Hassan Zaini, 45, Lee Boon Huat, 43, Chan Hong Pow, 43, Remesh Kumar Panicker, 47, R Kavitha, 31 and Salizawatie Md Razali, 36.

Nine of them made more than 50 such trips while three received warnings but continued to travel without permission.

Those in court appeared shocked when District Judge May Mesenas told them that they faced a 'high likelihood' of being jailed. One even claimed to not understand that he needed to apply for permission to leave Singapore.

None of them pleaded guilty on Monday and they were encouraged to seek legal advice, the court heard.

The other two - Iskandar Buang, 35, and Tan Kwong Wai Dumas, 41 - who did not show up, had warrants of arrest placed on them.

Under the law, bankrupts need to get approval to travel outside Singapore and face jail terms of up to two years or fines of up to $10,000 or both for not doing so.

Aside from the latest dozen to be charged, there have been 17 other cases so far this year.

The Insolvency and Public Trustee's Office (IPTO) allows bankrupts to apply for permission to travel via electronic means at www.iptoonline.gov.sg.