Employer leaves dying illegal worker at roadside

Despite bleeding from the mouth and vomiting after falling from a ladder, Mr Chelladurai Lenin, 47, did not want to be taken to the hospital as he was afraid that he would be caught for working on a forged permit.

 His employer, Tay Kok Eng, 56, then put the Indian national in his van and dumped the dying man by the side of the road.

On July 30, the owner of Midas Maintenance and Services admitted to depositing a dying person as well as hiring Mr Chelladurai from August 2009 to March 2010, even when he had reason to believe the general worker was an illegal immigrant.

He also admitted to a summons for failing to ensure work safety during the light-changing job on March 30, 2010. Tay had taken Mr Chelladurai to two clinics in Tampines and Hougang when the latter complained of pain after falling 2.8m while changing the ceiling lights at a condominium in Seraya Road.

Doctors in both clinics said Mr Chelladurai, who was losing consciousness and could barely walk, should be taken to the hospital.

Tay then took the dying man to Changi and the worker's friend dumped him on the pavement. The friend called an ambulance, then Tay took over the phone and told the operator that he had seen someone lying on the road at Upper Changi Road.

Mr Chelladurai was pronounced dead by paramedics when they arrived later. If convicted of illegally depositing a corpse, Tay could face up to six months in prison and be fined a maximum of $2,000.

For hiring an illegal worker, he could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in jail and fined up to $6,000.