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4,849 Uncensored and Obscene Discs Found and 2 Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Separate Operations
Case 1: 4,849 Uncensored and obscene Discs found in secret compartment of a car
Following the successful haul of 6,017 and 2,770 pieces of uncensored and obscene discs on 22 Jul and 29 Jul 2003 respectively, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Tuas Checkpoint intercepted yet another vehicle that attempted to smuggle more uncensored and obscene discs into Singapore.
2 On 31 Jul 2003 at about 0515 hours, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered car to stop for checks. During the initial check, ICA officers did not find anything incriminating in the car. However, as the 48 year-old male Malaysian appeared nervous and avoided eye contact when interviewed, ICA officers decided to conduct a more thorough search of the car.
3 During the search, ICA officers knocked at the rear seat panel and discovered it to be hollow. Further checks led to the discovery of two new screws used to secure the opening of the rear seat compartment. These findings aroused the suspicion of the officers that there could be two specially constructed compartments in the car; one located under the rear audio speaker panel and the other under the rear seat of the vehicle. When the two compartments were forced opened, a total of 4,849 pieces of assorted discs were found (1,107 pieces uncensored DVDs, 1,880 pieces uncensored VCDs, 996 pieces of CD-Roms and 257 DVD-Roms containing computer softwares and games and 260 pieces music CDs. The remaining 349 pieces of DVDs and VCDs were suspected to be obscene. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was promised S$50/- to drive the car into Singapore. The value of the 4,849 pieces of assorted discs is estimated to have a street value of about S$48,000/-. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
5 Under 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 $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of distributing uncensored films are liable to a fine not less than $500/- for each film (or up to a maximum fine of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 6 months.
Case 2 : Two illegal immigrants found hiding in a secret compartment of a car
6 On 30 Jul 2003 at about 2345 hours, acting on information received, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered car to stop for checks at the Arrival Car Bay of Woodlands Checkpoint.
7 The 29 year-old male Malaysian was asked to alight before a through search was conducted. When ICA officers lifted up the rear passenger seats where the speaker compartment was located, two persons were found hiding inside. The driver and the two persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.
8 Preliminary investigations revealed that the two male illegal immigrants were from the People's Republic of China (PRC). They are aged 40 and 28 years old and were not holding any travel document.
9 Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. While the trafficker faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
31 Jul 2003
Following the successful haul of 6,017 and 2,770 pieces of uncensored and obscene discs on 22 Jul and 29 Jul 2003 respectively, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Tuas Checkpoint intercepted yet another vehicle that attempted to smuggle more uncensored and obscene discs into Singapore.
2 On 31 Jul 2003 at about 0515 hours, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered car to stop for checks. During the initial check, ICA officers did not find anything incriminating in the car. However, as the 48 year-old male Malaysian appeared nervous and avoided eye contact when interviewed, ICA officers decided to conduct a more thorough search of the car.
3 During the search, ICA officers knocked at the rear seat panel and discovered it to be hollow. Further checks led to the discovery of two new screws used to secure the opening of the rear seat compartment. These findings aroused the suspicion of the officers that there could be two specially constructed compartments in the car; one located under the rear audio speaker panel and the other under the rear seat of the vehicle. When the two compartments were forced opened, a total of 4,849 pieces of assorted discs were found (1,107 pieces uncensored DVDs, 1,880 pieces uncensored VCDs, 996 pieces of CD-Roms and 257 DVD-Roms containing computer softwares and games and 260 pieces music CDs. The remaining 349 pieces of DVDs and VCDs were suspected to be obscene. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was promised S$50/- to drive the car into Singapore. The value of the 4,849 pieces of assorted discs is estimated to have a street value of about S$48,000/-. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
5 Under 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 $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of distributing uncensored films are liable to a fine not less than $500/- for each film (or up to a maximum fine of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 6 months.
Case 2 : Two illegal immigrants found hiding in a secret compartment of a car
6 On 30 Jul 2003 at about 2345 hours, acting on information received, ICA officers signalled a Malaysia registered car to stop for checks at the Arrival Car Bay of Woodlands Checkpoint.
7 The 29 year-old male Malaysian was asked to alight before a through search was conducted. When ICA officers lifted up the rear passenger seats where the speaker compartment was located, two persons were found hiding inside. The driver and the two persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.
8 Preliminary investigations revealed that the two male illegal immigrants were from the People's Republic of China (PRC). They are aged 40 and 28 years old and were not holding any travel document.
9 Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. While the trafficker faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
31 Jul 2003