They tried hiding under the bed, behind toilet doors, in the cupboards. These are some of the places that immigration offenders seek to make themselves “invisible” when officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) come knocking on their doorsteps. Alternatively, they would scramble and find any corners and hide under the cover of darkness in their desperate attempts to evade detection. Their attempts proved futile.

2.     From 5 to 7 September 2011, ICA officers conducted a series of island-wide operations at 12 vicinities. The objective of the operations was to apprehend immigration offenders as well as their abettors at their sanctuaries and workplaces.

3.     By the morning of 7 September 2011, ICA officers had rounded up a total of 39 immigration offenders ranging between 17 and 53 years old. Five Singaporeans are also currently being investigated for harbouring and/or employing the immigration offenders. The immigration offenders were mostly overstayers. Some claimed that they were not in possession of a travel document. 

   
                          

4. The foreigners hailed from Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, Indonesia and Myanmar. Most of them claimed that they had been working as cleaners, painters, odd-job labourers, construction workers and food stall helpers. Some of the women had admitted to engaging in vice activities and are currently being investigated by ICA and the Singapore Police Force.

5. 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 more than 90 days and illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months for both genders plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane for male offenders below 50 years old. In lieu of caning, the female offenders shall be sentenced to a fine not exceeding $6,000.

6. The ICA would like to advise homeowners to exercise due diligence in checking the status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that their status in Singapore is legal. Those who wish to rent their premises to foreigners are required to conduct the three mandatory checks:
(a) Check his/her ORIGINAL immigration/work pass;
(b) Cross check the particulars on his/her pass against the particulars on his/her ORIGINAL passport; and
(c) Verify the validity of his/her pass by checking with the issuing authority (either ICA for student’s pass and visit pass or the Ministry of Manpower for work passes). You can verify the validity of the immigration passes using the ICA online system, iEnquiry, which is available through the ICA website at www.ica.gov.sg

Under the Immigration Act, homeowners who are found guilty of harbouring immigration offenders may be sentenced to an imprisonment of between six months to two years, and a fine not exceeding $6,000.

7. Everyone has a part to play in keeping Singapore safe and secure. We urge members of the public to contact the ICA at Tel: 1800-391 6150 if they have information regarding immigration offenders.


IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
8 SEPTEMBER 2011