On 1 Nov 2012 at about 11.55pm, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Woodlands Checkpoint stopped a departing Malaysia-registered 40-footer trailer for a routine check. The Malaysian driver and his passenger were asked to step out of their vehicle to allow officers to conduct the check. Our alert officers had their suspicion aroused when the driver and his passenger appeared nervous. ICA officers proceeded with their checks on the vehicle and found a man crouching inside the storage compartment behind the passenger seat. The driver, passenger and the immigration offender were immediately placed under arrest.


Storage compartment behind passenger seat


Immigration offender hiding in the compartment

2        The 28-year-old male Malaysian driver, 28-year-old male Malaysian passenger and the 26-year-old Indian national are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and is liable for forfeiture. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners 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.

3        Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The enhanced security checks are critical to our nation’s security. We have tightened our 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
02 Nov 2012