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Family Reunion
In the midst of the Chinese New Year festivities, to be reunited with one’s family is on the minds of many. For someone who had overstayed in a foreign land for some time, he would certainly itch to return home. But luck may not always be on his side when he is trying to escape the reality of his wrongdoing.
2. On 1 February 2012, at about 12:30pm, ICA officers directed a departing Malaysia-registered car for checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint. As the “lone” male driver was requested to step out of his car for checks, ICA officers were greeted with another man crouched up at the back seat, covered in a black cloth. The driver and the “undeclared” passenger were immediately placed under arrest.
The black MPV used to facilitate the illegal departure.
Immigration offender crouching in the back seat and covered with a black cloth
3. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 21-year-old male Malaysian driver was asked by his brother-in-law to use the latter’s car to convey the immigration offender out of the country. The driver also disclosed that he will be paid S$1,000 after the mission was accomplished. As for the 37-year-old Bangladeshi who had overstayed and attempted to depart Singapore illegally, he revealed that he wanted to go home to reunite with his wife.
4. Both the driver and the immigration offender are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and are 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.
5 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
1 FEBRUARY 2012
2. On 1 February 2012, at about 12:30pm, ICA officers directed a departing Malaysia-registered car for checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint. As the “lone” male driver was requested to step out of his car for checks, ICA officers were greeted with another man crouched up at the back seat, covered in a black cloth. The driver and the “undeclared” passenger were immediately placed under arrest.
The black MPV used to facilitate the illegal departure.
Immigration offender crouching in the back seat and covered with a black cloth
3. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 21-year-old male Malaysian driver was asked by his brother-in-law to use the latter’s car to convey the immigration offender out of the country. The driver also disclosed that he will be paid S$1,000 after the mission was accomplished. As for the 37-year-old Bangladeshi who had overstayed and attempted to depart Singapore illegally, he revealed that he wanted to go home to reunite with his wife.
4. Both the driver and the immigration offender are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of the offences has been detained and are 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.
5 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
1 FEBRUARY 2012