Singaporeans charged in China kids passport scam

SINGAPORE, Mar 21 (Reuters) Seven Singaporeans were charged in court for using their children's birth certificates to obtain forged passports to smuggle Chinese children into the United States, a court official said today.

The seven are accused of helping a Malaysian syndicate forge Singapore passports for children of Chinese nationals living in the United States so that the children could leave China to join them.

The Singaporean parents, who were charged yesterday,pretended to be the Chinese children's parents, and used their own children's birth certificates together with photographs of the Chinese children to obtain new Singaporean passports, according to court documents seen by Reuters.

The parents received SINGAPORE, Mar 21 (Reuters) Seven Singaporeans were charged in court for using their children's birth certificates to obtain forged passports to smuggle Chinese children into the United States, a court official said today.

The seven are accused of helping a Malaysian syndicate forge Singapore passports for children of Chinese nationals living in the United States so that the children could leave China to join them.

The Singaporean parents, who were charged yesterday,pretended to be the Chinese children's parents, and used their own children's birth certificates together with photographs of the Chinese children to obtain new Singaporean passports, according to court documents seen by Reuters.

The parents received $2,000 (1,238 dollars) for each false passport. The Singapore agents who recruited the parents to take part in the scam received S$500 for each child that successfully entered the United States.

The Malaysian syndicate operated out of the city-state because Singaporean citizens do not require a visa when travelling to the United States.

Last month, the six Singaporean agents were sentenced to jail terms of between one to three years. The parents could face jail terms of up to seven years.

REUTERS PR VC1345 ,000 (1,238 dollars) for each false passport. The Singapore agents who recruited the parents to take part in the scam received S0 for each child that successfully entered the United States.

The Malaysian syndicate operated out of the city-state because Singaporean citizens do not require a visa when travelling to the United States.

Last month, the six Singaporean agents were sentenced to jail terms of between one to three years. The parents could face jail terms of up to seven years.

REUTERS PR VC1345