SINGAPORE - More than 200 former employees of embattled start-up Honestbee are owed close to $1 million in salary.

In an affidavit filed in court on Sept 20 in support of the company's debt moratorium application, Honestbee chief executive Ong Lay Ann stated that the company is in the midst of paying its 217 former employees owed salary amounting to $987,995.46.