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Crouching in black at the back
Being in the back seat of a vehicle could be a privilege to many. What could then possibly mean when it is required for one to be all dressed in black and crouched up in an awkward position at the back seat? It was definitely not a stunt from a box office movie but this scene is no stranger to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers.
2 On 13 January 2012, at about 2:30am, ICA officers directed a departing Malaysia-registered car for checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint. As the “lone” male driver stepped out of his car for checks, he appeared nervous and fidgety. The windows of the vehicle were also noticeably tinted darker. ICA officers proceeded with their checks of the vehicle and found a man crouched up at the back seat. The driver and the “undeclared” passenger were immediately placed under arrest.
The vehicle that the immigration offender was hiding in.
I am invisible. No?
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 28-year-old male Malaysian driver was promised SGD1500 to bring the immigration offender out of the country. He also admitted that the vehicle used in this illegal activity belonged to him. As for the 33-year-old Bangladeshi who attempted to depart Singapore illegally, he revealed that he had come to work in Singapore sometime in May 2002 and had overstayed to seek illegal employment. According to him, the driver had driven to a deserted area in Woodlands and instructed him to crouch on the rear floorboard of the vehicle before proceeding to the checkpoint for departure clearance.
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
13 JANUARY 2012
2 On 13 January 2012, at about 2:30am, ICA officers directed a departing Malaysia-registered car for checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint. As the “lone” male driver stepped out of his car for checks, he appeared nervous and fidgety. The windows of the vehicle were also noticeably tinted darker. ICA officers proceeded with their checks of the vehicle and found a man crouched up at the back seat. The driver and the “undeclared” passenger were immediately placed under arrest.
The vehicle that the immigration offender was hiding in.
I am invisible. No?
3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 28-year-old male Malaysian driver was promised SGD1500 to bring the immigration offender out of the country. He also admitted that the vehicle used in this illegal activity belonged to him. As for the 33-year-old Bangladeshi who attempted to depart Singapore illegally, he revealed that he had come to work in Singapore sometime in May 2002 and had overstayed to seek illegal employment. According to him, the driver had driven to a deserted area in Woodlands and instructed him to crouch on the rear floorboard of the vehicle before proceeding to the checkpoint for departure clearance.
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
13 JANUARY 2012