Thilagavathi Susan Victoria Karuppiah, 39, admitted to employing Madam Narayanan Santhi at her parents' and parents-in-law's homes from November 2003 to October 2006 without a valid work permit.

A district court heard that Madam Narayanan had been working for Thilagavathi's husband, Mr Antony Samy Francis Veerappan, 39, at Rivervale Drive since Feb 22, 2003.

But her work permit was cancelled on Nov 1, 2003 due to levy default. Investigations showed that the maid had received work instructions from Thilagavathi who deployed her to work at her parents' place in Simei until May 2006. After that, the maid went to work for her in-laws in Hougang.

Thilagavathi neither repatriated nor reinstated Madam Narayanan's work permit.

Pleading for leniency, she said she has two school-going children and her income was low.

District Judge Jasbendar Kaur imposed a fine equivalent to 32 months' levy at $345 a month.

Thilagavathi could have been fined between 24 and 48 months' levy or jailed for up to one year or both under the Employment of Foreign Workers Act.