HOME executive director suspended over embezzlement allegations

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SINGAPORE The Humanitarian Organization for the Economics of Migration (HOME) has suspended its executive director, Ms Deshi Gill, following allegations that Ms Gill may have misused HOME funds.

It came after an online post via Reddit where it was alleged that Ms Gill “falsified thousands of dollars in claims without providing documentary evidence of those expenses”.

According to HOME in a Facebook post on Tuesday, the suspension was put in place so that it could conduct its internal investigation.

After preliminary investigations, HOME believes there is a basis for alleged misconduct and noted that the appropriate authorities have been noted.

“HOME’s board and staff will provide all necessary information in connection with any investigation that will be conducted. As the matter is now in the hands of the authorities, we are unable to comment further.

“HOME is currently reviewing our governance controls to ensure the rigor of our internal processes so that such failings do not happen again.”

He also took the opportunity to thank all the members of the public and donors who have supported the migrant worker NGO over the years.

According to its annual report, HOME had an income of S$1.87 million and an expenditure of S$1.86 million in the financial year 2021.

The Reddit post also criticized the HOME board’s failure to oversee Ms Gill, but “still has the nerve to ask us members to trust them, and the process, to avoid speculation for their own security”.

The poster asked, “Where is the transparency and accountability expected of an NGO that uses public and private donations to help marginalized migrant workers. How can we use hard-earned public money intended to help migrant workers to enrich our own senior executives? »

HOME said in its Facebook post that its commitment to advancing the cause of migrant workers remains unwavering.

The NGO has been heavily involved in the shocking case of Indonesian domestic worker, Parti Liyani, accused of theft by her former employer, Liew Mun Leong, former chairman of Changi Airport Group and Surbana Jurong.

On September 4, 2020, the High Court threw out Ms Liyani’s convictions on four theft charges brought against her by the Attorneys General’s Chamber (AGC), four years after she was first arrested by Singapore police at Changi Airport in 2016.

HOME had provided housing and financial assistance to Ms Liyani while she was trapped in Singapore due to the charges announced by the Liew family. He also secured pro bono attorney, Anil Balchandani, who fought hard against state prosecutors in state court and high court hearings and proved his innocence.

Karl Liew, who falsely accused Ms Liyani of theft, was charged with perjury in November 2020 and is still in the process of setting a court date.

HOME stressed that it will continue to strive to improve the welfare and dignity of migrant workers in Singapore and that all of its operations and services will continue to operate during this period.

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