A 33-year-old pub owner was fined $15,000 on Thursday for failing to control and supervise his foreign employees, and using the services of an unlicensed employment agent.

Vijaya Kumaar Ramasamy, the owner of Honey Pub at Circular Road, had hired nine foreign workers between June and November 2012 to work as performers in his pub.

In a statement to the media, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said that instead of ensuring the foreign workers were working there, Vijaya had released them to seek their own employment.

Vijaya had sought the help of the unlicensed employment agent, 40-year-old Lim Bee Teck, to recruit six of the nine foreign workers to him.

The agent then made arrangements for the foreign workers to be sent to Singapore, and collected agency fees of $7,000 from each of them. He also collected a monthly levy of about $600 from the foreign workers for six months, although they never worked at the pub.

Investigations revealed that the money collected was shared between the two men.

The agent has been separately dealt with by MOM and was convicted last month, and fined $40,000.

The foreign employees involved in the case have been sent home.