To most of us, marriage is a sacred union and commitment between two persons in love.  However, some may enter into marriages with the intent to deceive others of its purpose, leaving us to ponder: where is the love?

 

2.         A Singaporean man, Quek had acquainted a Chinese national, Yu during his holiday trip in China in January 2012.  Even after his tour had ended, the couple remained in contact through the internet chat group.  Their relationship continued to be a platonic one though.  When Yu revealed to Quek that she was keen to stay in Singapore for a longer term, bad thoughts quickly set in the latter’s mind. 

 

3.         Quek was a heavy gambler and unemployed at that time.  Hence, he seized the opportunity to earn quick money and suggested to Yu that he could help her to stay and remain in Singapore by entering into a marriage of convenience (MOC) together.  For this arrangement, he asked Yu for S$15,000. 

 

4.         Yu arrived in Singapore in March 2012 with a Singapore visa that Quek applied for her using his father’s residential address in Woodlands.  Quek did not stay there.  The second time when Yu came to Singapore in April 2012, Quek told her to state the same address on her disembarkation/embarkation (D/E) card as her place of stay in Singapore.  Investigations showed that Yu was staying along Race Course Road.  The couple subsequently “registered” their marriage in May 2012 and Yu eventually obtained a Long Term Visit Pass under Quek’s sponsorship.

5.         Quek may have thought his plan worked out seamlessly.  Never did he realise that officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were already keeping a close watch on both Yu and himself.

 

6.         35-year-old Quek Mu Lian and 28-year-old Yu Dan were arrested by ICA officers on 6 December 2012 and charged in court two days later. Quek was charged with two counts for making false statements in Yu’s visit pass application forms and one count for making a false statement in his application for Yu’s visa under Sec 57(1)(k) of Immigration Act Cap 133.  He was also charged with another count for abetting Yu to make false statement in her D/E card.  Quek was convicted on 28 December 2012 and sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment.  Yu was charged with two counts for making false statements in her visit pass application forms and another count for making a false statement in her D/E card under Sec 57(1)(k) of Immigration Act Cap 133.  She was convicted on 14 December 2012 and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.

 

7.         ICA takes a serious view of individuals trying to deceive and circumvent existing immigration rules and requirements by engaging in MOCs to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore.  ICA will not hesitate to take action against those who have submitted their applications under false representations and have their immigration facilities revoked. 

 

        

[From left:  Quek Mu Lian; Yu Dan]

 

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY

26 March 2013