04/07/2019

Former Managers of Kings International Business School Sentenced for Private Education Offences

Ms Pek Siew Gek (Denise) and Mr Tang Yudong (Joxer), former managers of Kings International Business School (KIBS), were convicted of offences under the Private Education (PE) Act on 24 Apr 2019 and 4 Jul 2019.

The following are the respective Private Education offences and sentences:

a. Ms Pek Siew Gek (Denise):

(i) One charge under Section 60(5), Private Education Act Cap 247A – Failing to comply with a direction issued by CPE to refund or place out students - sentenced to four weeks imprisonment.
(ii) One charge under Section 61(1)(b), Private Education Act Cap 247A – Provision of false information (exam scripts) to the CPE – sentenced to six weeks imprisonment (to run consecutively).
(iii) One charge under Section 61(1)(b), Private Education Act 247A – Provision of false information (attendance lists) to the CPE – sentenced to six weeks imprisonment (to run concurrently).

b. Mr Tang Yudong (Joxer):

 (i) One charge under Section 60(5), Private Education Act Cap 247A – Failing to comply with a direction issued by CPE to refund or place out students - sentenced to four weeks imprisonment.

Ten other charges were taken into consideration during the sentencing.

The two were also convicted of one charge each under the Penal Code on 22 May 2018 and sentenced on 27 July 2018. Their appeals against the conviction and sentence were dismissed on 10 June 2019.

The then-Council for Private Education (CPE)^[1] had investigated and obtained evidence that KIBS had offered and awarded students diplomas in maritime studies without requiring class attendance or assessment. KIBS’ registration was cancelled, with effect from 5 May 2015, for issuing diplomas without ensuring that students had received proper instruction and assessment.

The CPE had further directed the former managers of KIBS to place-out^[2] existing students on their records or refund them the full course fees by 3 July 2015.  However, they did not comply with the direction and failed to refund a total of $174,138.50 in course fees to 34 students. Ms Pek Siew Gek (Denise) had also furnished 10 false examination scripts of students and six false attendance lists to CPE.

“While the private education sector has improved over the years, we must remain vigilant against errant Private Education Institutions.  Members of the public should be cautious and not take up offers for certifications that do not require them to attend classes and/or take examinations, tests or other forms of assessment, and we would advise them to raise such cases to our attention,” said Ms Hui Mei San, Group Director (Regulation, Fraud and Enforcement), SkillsFuture Singapore.

For more background information on the cancellation of registration of KIBS, please refer to earlier media releases at:

• Council for Private Education to cancel registration of errant private education institution (20 April 2015)
• Charges filed against former managers of Kings International Business School (1 June 2016)

^[1] The Council for Private Education was reconstituted as part of SkillsFuture Singapore on 3 October 2016 and is now known as the Committee for Private Education.

^[2] Place-out means that KIBS has to arrange for its students to continue their course at another suitable private education institution (PEI), subject to that PEI's agreement.