Back to top
“Coolest” place to chill out
Chilling out at a café with a cup of aromatic espresso and a thrilling novel on hand – what better way to spend time on a leisurely Sunday. When it comes to places to chill out in Singapore, we are spoilt for choices with cafes and eateries at every corner of a street. Yet one person had chosen a unique way to chill out on a Sunday…
2 The evening peak periods at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 20 March 2011 were no different from other weekends as throngs of travellers and vehicles crossed the border checkpoint. At about 6.45pm, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) directed a departing Malaysia-registered truck for checks at the cargo zone. When the driver stepped out of his vehicle, the officers observed that he was fidgety and nervous. The fleeting non-verbal cues did not escape the eyes of the officers. Sensing something amiss, the officers proceeded to conduct a thorough check of the vehicle.
3 When the officers inspected the refrigerated container of the truck, the driver and his ‘’customer’’ knew that their game was up. A Chinese man was found huddled amongst the stacks of empty trays in the cold storage area, putting a halt to his chill out session. Both the driver and the immigration offender were immediately placed under arrest and are currently under investigation for their offences.
Refrigerated truck used to transport coconuts
Best spot to chill out?
4 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 42-year-old Malaysian driver was promised SGD500 to bring the immigration offender out of the country. The 30-year-old Chinese man was established to be a PRC national who had overstayed in Singapore. He claimed that he had decided to leave Singapore as he could not find employment.
5 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.
6 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
22 MARCH 2011
2 The evening peak periods at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 20 March 2011 were no different from other weekends as throngs of travellers and vehicles crossed the border checkpoint. At about 6.45pm, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) directed a departing Malaysia-registered truck for checks at the cargo zone. When the driver stepped out of his vehicle, the officers observed that he was fidgety and nervous. The fleeting non-verbal cues did not escape the eyes of the officers. Sensing something amiss, the officers proceeded to conduct a thorough check of the vehicle.
3 When the officers inspected the refrigerated container of the truck, the driver and his ‘’customer’’ knew that their game was up. A Chinese man was found huddled amongst the stacks of empty trays in the cold storage area, putting a halt to his chill out session. Both the driver and the immigration offender were immediately placed under arrest and are currently under investigation for their offences.
Refrigerated truck used to transport coconuts
Best spot to chill out?
4 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 42-year-old Malaysian driver was promised SGD500 to bring the immigration offender out of the country. The 30-year-old Chinese man was established to be a PRC national who had overstayed in Singapore. He claimed that he had decided to leave Singapore as he could not find employment.
5 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.
6 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
22 MARCH 2011