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Five caught departing illegally at Woodlands Checkpoint
On 13 Feb 2004 at about 0005 hours, five immigration offenders and their Malaysian driver found out that our Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Woodlands Checkpoint are as vigilant in foiling attempts by foreigners to depart illegally as they are in preventing foreigners from entering Singapore illegally. The five persons were sweating buckets of perspiration when they were ordered to come out of their hiding place in the car. Four of them were hiding in the car boot of the Malaysia-registered car and another one lying on the floorboard between the front and back passenger seats.
2 Our ICA officers stopped the car at the Departure Car Bay at Woodlands Checkpoint for a check when they noticed that the car boot appeared to be heavy even though there were no passengers at the back. A thorough check was conducted and four persons (two males and two females) were found hiding in the boot of the car. Another person, a female was found lying on the floorboard between the front and back seats. Some luggage was placed on top of the female in a bid to conceal her. The driver and the five persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the three female immigration offenders, ages being 23, 40 and 43 years old, were from Thailand. One of the male immigration offenders was 35 years old and came from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Another male, aged 30 was from Nepal. All of them were found to have overstayed in Singapore.
4 Investigations revealed that the 26-year old driver was approached by a man in Malaysia and promised about RM$1000 to smuggle the five persons out of Singapore.
5 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the smuggler faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The conveyor of these immigration offenders faces a minimum jail term of 2 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
13 Feb 2004
2 Our ICA officers stopped the car at the Departure Car Bay at Woodlands Checkpoint for a check when they noticed that the car boot appeared to be heavy even though there were no passengers at the back. A thorough check was conducted and four persons (two males and two females) were found hiding in the boot of the car. Another person, a female was found lying on the floorboard between the front and back seats. Some luggage was placed on top of the female in a bid to conceal her. The driver and the five persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the three female immigration offenders, ages being 23, 40 and 43 years old, were from Thailand. One of the male immigration offenders was 35 years old and came from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Another male, aged 30 was from Nepal. All of them were found to have overstayed in Singapore.
4 Investigations revealed that the 26-year old driver was approached by a man in Malaysia and promised about RM$1000 to smuggle the five persons out of Singapore.
5 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the smuggler faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The conveyor of these immigration offenders faces a minimum jail term of 2 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
13 Feb 2004