Do Not ‘Harbour’ Ill(egal) Thoughts
In the month of June, three men were convicted of harbouring immigration offenders (IOs) and were each sentenced to no less than six months of imprisonment as a result. The trio had committed an offence under Section 57(1)(d) of the Immigration Act (Cap 133). To those who think that they will be able to pull off the same stunt without getting caught, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) advises them not to harbour such ill thoughts.
2. On 11 June 2013, Singapore Permanent Resident Jia Hongran was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The 34-year-old man harboured two Chinese nationals at a unit at Tanjong Katong Road for a monthly rental of $200 each. ICA officers arrested the two IOs on 27 August 2012. The male IO, 47, was charged and convicted on 4 September 2012 for remaining unlawfully in Singapore for a period exceeding 90 days. He was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment and four strokes of the cane. The other 48-year-old female IO was charged and convicted on 28 August 2012 for remaining unlawfully in Singapore for a period not exceeding 90 days. She was sentenced to a fine of $2,000 in default of two weeks’ imprisonment.
3. 38-year-old Singaporean Yip Weng Wah was arrested by the ICA officers on 10 December 2012 for harbouring three female IOs at a unit in Jalan Kayu. The Vietnamese women, aged 20, 28 and 31, had each paid him $15 daily to rent a bed space at his unit. Yip was convicted to six months’ imprisonment on 17 June 2013 while the three women were convicted on 22 November 2012 for remaining unlawfully in Singapore for a period not exceeding 90 days. They were each sentenced to a fine of $2,000 in default of two weeks’ imprisonment.
4. Another Singaporean Kwek Seng Leong, 49, was arrested on 16 May 2013 by ICA officers at his place of residency for harbouring three male Chinese nationals. They had each paid him a monthly rental of $190 to stay at his unit in Yishun Ring Road. While Kwek was convicted to seven months’ imprisonment on 26 June 2013, the three IOs were also dealt with accordingly. The 40-year-old IO was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane. The other, aged 34, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane and fined $500 in default of five days’ imprisonment. The third IO, 55, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined $3,000 in default of six weeks’ imprisonment.
Caught and punished for harbouring IOs
5. The ICA would like to advise homeowners 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 (either ICA for student’s pass and visit pass or the Ministry of Manpower for work passes). You can also verify the validity of the immigration passes using the ICA online system, iEnquiry, which is available through the ICA website at www.ica.gov.sg.
6. Under the Immigration Act, homeowners who are found guilty of harbouring IOs may be sentenced to an imprisonment of between six months to two years, and a fine not exceeding $6,000 or to both.
7. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act, the penalties for overstaying more than 90 days or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane. In lieu of caning, the offenders shall be sentenced to a fine not exceeding $6,000.
8. Everyone has a part to play in keeping Singapore safe and secure. We urge members of the public to contact the ICA at Tel: 1800-391 6150 during office hours if they have information regarding IOs.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
10 July 2013