The men and women were physically and mentally drained after 10 strenuous hours of combing through the major streets and small back alleys across the island. This arduous task started on a hot afternoon and continued through the humid night, ending at the wee hours of the next morning. Undaunted and focused, they shouldered on with just one mission in their minds. No, they were not running for the latest sun-down marathon in town but pursuing another long-distance race against the lawbreakers.

2.     The protracted efforts began in the late afternoon of 18 May at about 5pm. Officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted a series of island-wide operations at more than 16 vicinities. They were very clear of their mission – to apprehend immigration offenders as well as their abettors at their sanctuaries and workplaces.

3.      By about 4am in the morning of the following day, the ICA officers had rounded up a total of 54 immigration offenders ranging between 19 and 75 years old. They included six Singaporeans (four females and two males) who are currently being investigated for harbouring and/or employing the foreign immigration offenders. The 48 foreign immigration offenders (38 males and 10 females) were mostly overstayers and a few had ran away from their employers.

4.      The foreigners hailed from Bangladesh, China, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. Most of them admitted that they had come to Singapore to seek illegal employment and they had no fixed employer. They had been working as general workers, cleaners, odd-job labourers, painters and food stall helpers. Some of the women had admitted to engaging in vice activities. The offenders are currently investigated by ICA and the Singapore Police Force. 

   
                                Nabbed!! Immigration offenders caught by ICA officers

5.      From dusk to dawn, the resolute ICA officers plunged into a series of actions to seek out these immigration offenders, sending a strong deterrent signal to like-minded offenders who may wishfully think that they are able to escape the radar of the vigilant ICA officers.. Like the marathon runners, it was the ICA officers’ sheer determination and perseverance that nudged them to the finishing line. It has certainly been a fruitful run around the island.

6.      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.

7.      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.

8.       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
20 MAY 2011