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ICA Scores Again with Arrests of Smuggler of VCDs and Supplier of Illegal Workers
Case 1
Following two failed attempts to smuggle about 13,000 uncensored and obscene discs on two occasions two weeks' ago at Tuas Checkpoint, a VCD smuggler thought he could try his luck by attempting to smuggle discs through Woodlands Checkpoint in the wee hours this morning. Apparently, Lady Luck was not on his side as he failed to escape from the watchful eyes of our Vigilant Checkpoint Dynamos.
2 On 30 Oct 2003 at about 0145 hrs, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers from Woodlands Checkpoint stopped a Malaysian-registered car during a routine check. In the course of the search, the 25 year-old Malaysian driver appeared nervous. Upon further checks, our officers detected a small opening leading to a secret compartment behind the back seat of the car, where about 4,000 uncensored and obscene discs were found.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$350/- to drive the car into Singapore and was instructed by a fellow Malaysian to park the car somewhere in Yishun. The street value of the assorted discs seized is estimated at about S$27, 300/- and the GST involved amounted to S$1,100/-.
4 Under the Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to S$10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of S$100,000/-), and/or a jail term of up to five years. Under the Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less that $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding an aggregate of S$40,000/-), and/or a jail term of up to 12 months.
Case 2
5 On 29 Oct 2003, ICA officers mounted an operation to arrest a male Singapore suspected of employing immigration offenders and supplying them to work at various Chinese cooked-food stalls in Jurong and Bedok areas. A total of five Chinese cooked-food stalls were raided resulting in the arrest of 15 immigration offenders.
6 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 15 immigration offenders, comprising of 13 People's Republic of China nationals and 2 Malaysians, aged between 26 and 59 year-old, were working illegally as helpers at the various food stalls. The Singaporean who was suspected of employing and supplying the immigration offenders, aged 43, was also arrested together with his accomplice, another Singaporean.
7 Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the punishment for overstaying and illegal entry is a jail term up to six months and caning of at least 3 strokes. The punishment for employing immigration offenders is a jail term between six months and two years and a fine up to $6,000/-.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
30 Oct 2003
Following two failed attempts to smuggle about 13,000 uncensored and obscene discs on two occasions two weeks' ago at Tuas Checkpoint, a VCD smuggler thought he could try his luck by attempting to smuggle discs through Woodlands Checkpoint in the wee hours this morning. Apparently, Lady Luck was not on his side as he failed to escape from the watchful eyes of our Vigilant Checkpoint Dynamos.
2 On 30 Oct 2003 at about 0145 hrs, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers from Woodlands Checkpoint stopped a Malaysian-registered car during a routine check. In the course of the search, the 25 year-old Malaysian driver appeared nervous. Upon further checks, our officers detected a small opening leading to a secret compartment behind the back seat of the car, where about 4,000 uncensored and obscene discs were found.
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was paid RM$350/- to drive the car into Singapore and was instructed by a fellow Malaysian to park the car somewhere in Yishun. The street value of the assorted discs seized is estimated at about S$27, 300/- and the GST involved amounted to S$1,100/-.
4 Under the Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to S$10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of S$100,000/-), and/or a jail term of up to five years. Under the Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less that $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding an aggregate of S$40,000/-), and/or a jail term of up to 12 months.
Case 2
5 On 29 Oct 2003, ICA officers mounted an operation to arrest a male Singapore suspected of employing immigration offenders and supplying them to work at various Chinese cooked-food stalls in Jurong and Bedok areas. A total of five Chinese cooked-food stalls were raided resulting in the arrest of 15 immigration offenders.
6 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 15 immigration offenders, comprising of 13 People's Republic of China nationals and 2 Malaysians, aged between 26 and 59 year-old, were working illegally as helpers at the various food stalls. The Singaporean who was suspected of employing and supplying the immigration offenders, aged 43, was also arrested together with his accomplice, another Singaporean.
7 Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the punishment for overstaying and illegal entry is a jail term up to six months and caning of at least 3 strokes. The punishment for employing immigration offenders is a jail term between six months and two years and a fine up to $6,000/-.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
30 Oct 2003