On 2 April 2018 at about 6am, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers conducted an enforcement operation in a public housing unit at Toa Payoh Lorong 2.

2.        A 40-year old male Chinese national was arrested as he had overstayed in Singapore after the cancellation of his work permit. Another 35-year-old male Chinese national who had provided the overstayer with a place to stay was also arrested and is currently under investigation for suspected harbouring offences.

3.        The 3-bedroom unit was found to be rented out by the 35-year-old Chinese national to 15 occupants including the overstayer, 13 valid pass holders and a Singaporean. ICA officers also discovered two illegally partitioned bedrooms in the living room of the unit. Investigations are ongoing.

4.        The ICA takes a serious view of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), 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.

5.        Homeowners are advised to exercise due diligence in checking the status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that their status in Singapore is legal. Those who wish to rent their premises to foreigners are required to conduct the three mandatory checks:

(a) Check his/her original immigration/work pass; 
(b) Cross check the particulars on his/her pass against the particulars on his/her original passport; and 
(c) Verify the validity of his/her pass by checking with the issuing authority.

6.        If the homeowner is found guilty of recklessly (i.e. carrying out only one of the three due diligence checks) or knowingly harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants, he may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not more than two years and a fine not exceeding S$6,000. If a homeowner is found guilty of negligently (i.e. carrying out only two of the three due diligence checks) harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants, he may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding S$6,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
6 APRIL 2018

Photos

Photo 1: 40-year-old overstayer arrested

Photos 2 and 3: Illegally partitioned bedrooms in the living room of the unit