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Four Jailed For Marriage Of Convenience Offences
A 49-year-old Singaporean, Lee Poh Chiew was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for entering into a marriage of convenience with a Vietnam national, Nguyen Thi Mong Tuyen. Lee was introduced to 36-year-old Nguyen through a couple, 39-year-old Singaporean, Cheong Mun Siong and his Vietnamese wife, 31-year-old Tran Thi Cam Nhung.
2. In 2014, Nguyen approached her friend, Tran and told her that she would like to remain and work in Singapore. To help prolong Nguyen’s stay here, Tran informed Nguyen that her husband Cheong had a friend who could enter into a marriage of convenience with her and sponsor her Visit Pass application. In return, Nguyen agreed to pay Cheong $8,000 in three cash instalments.
3. Cheong’s friend, Lee was keen to make easy money. Subsequently on 21 November 2014, the “marriage” between Nguyen and Lee took place where Cheong was one of the witnesses. Nguyen paid Lee $1,100 and a monthly sum of $400 after the “marriage”. In return, Lee acted as the local sponsor for her Visit Pass application.
4. Lee and Nguyen were arrested by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on 27 April 2015. They were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on 18 May 2015 for entering into a marriage of convenience. Cheong and Tran were arrested on 6 January 2016. On 17 April 2017, both were convicted for arranging a marriage of convenience for Lee and Nguyen. Cheong was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment and fined $8,000 in default four weeks’ imprisonment while Tran was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
5. ICA takes a serious view of individuals trying to circumvent our system by engaging into or arranging/assisting to arrange marriages of convenience to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore. The penalties for the offence are a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.
6. ICA will continue to take firm enforcement action against errant couples and middlemen. We will spare no effort in investigating such cases, and will pursue every available lead. We welcome members of the public to report any suspected case of marriage of convenience to ICA at 1800-391 6150. Any information provided will be treated in strictest confidence.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
24 April 2017
2. In 2014, Nguyen approached her friend, Tran and told her that she would like to remain and work in Singapore. To help prolong Nguyen’s stay here, Tran informed Nguyen that her husband Cheong had a friend who could enter into a marriage of convenience with her and sponsor her Visit Pass application. In return, Nguyen agreed to pay Cheong $8,000 in three cash instalments.
3. Cheong’s friend, Lee was keen to make easy money. Subsequently on 21 November 2014, the “marriage” between Nguyen and Lee took place where Cheong was one of the witnesses. Nguyen paid Lee $1,100 and a monthly sum of $400 after the “marriage”. In return, Lee acted as the local sponsor for her Visit Pass application.
4. Lee and Nguyen were arrested by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on 27 April 2015. They were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on 18 May 2015 for entering into a marriage of convenience. Cheong and Tran were arrested on 6 January 2016. On 17 April 2017, both were convicted for arranging a marriage of convenience for Lee and Nguyen. Cheong was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment and fined $8,000 in default four weeks’ imprisonment while Tran was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
Cheong Mun Siong and Tran Thi Cam Nhung
jailed for arranging the marriage of convenience between Lee and Nguyen
5. ICA takes a serious view of individuals trying to circumvent our system by engaging into or arranging/assisting to arrange marriages of convenience to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore. The penalties for the offence are a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.
6. ICA will continue to take firm enforcement action against errant couples and middlemen. We will spare no effort in investigating such cases, and will pursue every available lead. We welcome members of the public to report any suspected case of marriage of convenience to ICA at 1800-391 6150. Any information provided will be treated in strictest confidence.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
24 April 2017