Last Wednesday, the ‘curtain’ came down for a female immigration offender who attempted to depart Singapore illegally by hiding in a lorry through Tuas Checkpoint. She was found curled up in the driver’s cabin partitioned by a curtain. Within the same week, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled another attempt to depart Singapore illegally.

 

2.          On 16 August 2013 at about 12pm, ICA officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint directed a departing Malaysia-registered lorry for routine checks. At first look, the back of the lorry seems empty with only a pile of waste material.

 

Empty or not empty?

 

3.         As soon as the officers moved in for a closer inspection of the vehicle, a man was found beneath the pile of card boxes. The 39-year-old male Malaysian driver, 33-year-old male Malaysian co-driver and the 40-year-old man were immediately placed under arrest.

 

 

An Immigration offender found beneath the pile of card boxes

 

4.         The trio are currently under investigation for immigration offences.  The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and is liable for forfeiture. 

 

5.         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, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

 

6.          Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security.  We will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands. 

 

 

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY

19 AUGUST 2013