SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted about 150 foreigners between 2012 and the first half of this year for providing false credentials, Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said on Tuesday.

All were jailed, had their work passes revoked and were barred from working in Singapore, said Mr Tan, in a written reply to Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam.

Mr Giam had asked what MOM plans to do to facilitate credential checks on foreigners coming here to work, in light of recent cases of foreigners who got their employment pass using false credentials.

Last Friday, a former China tour guide, accused of manipulating a wealthy 87-year-old widow into giving him control of her assets, was charged with faking his company's accounts. He had used his company to get an employment pass here, and is now being probed by MOM and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

Mr Tan said the Government had, in 2012, tightened legislation and increased penalties for making false statements or submitting false documents for work pass applications.

He added that his ministry also supplements its checks with third-party overseas screening agencies and verifies the authenticity of certificates directly with issuing educational institutions.

"MOM will take strong actions against those who make false declarations in work pass applications. If members of the public know of such offences, they should report the matter to MOM," he said.