When Cakes Meet Court: The Sweet Saga of Payments Gone Wrong
Yvonne Ong Hwee Ming—once boss of the local bakery Twelve Cupcakes and a former teacher—found herself in hot water over a cooking‑pitched payout mishap. The 49‑year‑old admitted she let the shop skim workers’ wages, and the court didn’t take kindly to it.
Scoring the Fine
- July 27 – Yvonne pleaded guilty to four counts under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA).
- She was hit with a hefty $20,000 fine.
- Another four similar charges were considered when the judge handed down the punishment.
The whole drama dates back to 2013‑2014, when the bakery began hiring foreign talent to spice up its operations.
Family Ties & Bakery Bonds
Yvonne is the older sister of Daniel Ong Ming Yu, a 45‑year‑old former radio DJ. Daniel and his wife, the artiste Jaime Teo Chai‑lin (43), set up Twelve Cupcakes in 2011.
Later this year, Daniel got slapped with a $65,000 fine for letting the bakery underpay overseas staff. He faced 10 EFMA charges and was found guilty. Jaime received the very same punishment in March.
Who Was The Unpaid?
- A pastry chef whose monthly salary was supposed to be $2,300 but only received $1,600 in 2014.
- A sales executive who left Singapore in 2019 and remains missing—no restitution could be secured.
Yvonne’s role as director meant she was one of the main decision makers, handling salaries and hiring strategies. She authorized the pay scale but then let the fraud happen.
Restitution Round‑up
- She handed over $3,500 to the chef as a partial payback.
- Traces of the sales executive were lost, so that part remains unpaid.
Lawyer’s Take
Gloria James, a solicitor from Gloria James‑Civetta & Co, argued that Yvonne had limited HR experience and was a person of good character. She pushed for a smaller fine of $12,500.
Despite the lawyer’s arguments, the judge stuck with the original amount. Meanwhile, Daniel and Jaime were tied to seven underpaid workers between 2013 and 2016.
In the end, this cake‑related case reminds us that even sweet treats can leave a bitter taste when benefits aren’t handled properly.
<img alt="" data-caption="Mr Daniel Ong and Ms Jaime Teo were each fined $65,000 earlier this year.
PHOTO: The Straits Times” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”96ab5639-62de-4e8b-9a64-0911801ba81e” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210727_DanielOngJaimeTeo_StraitsTimes.jpg”/>
12 Cupcakes’ Winding‑Down of Fair‑Pay
The Big Move
- 2016 Sale: The founders traded the sweet shop for a cool $2.5 million to the Kolkata‑based Dhunseri Group.
- January Fines: Under the new banner, the firm was hit with a $119,500 penalty for underpaying seven foreign employees.
- December Verdict: In 2023, the company faced 15 counts of wage theft for work done in 2017‑2018 and was convicted on 10 December.
Legal Consequences
Every charge under the wage‑underpayment Act can fetch a year in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Still, this case’s $119,500 fine was a hefty slap—much more than the ceiling for a single offence.
Also In the News
- Jaime Teo, another key figure, was fined $65,000 for his participation in the underpaying scheme.
Source: The Straits Times—reproduction requires permission. Enjoy your legal sugar rush!
