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Chassis Class Sleeper?
Tour coaches plying Singapore and Malaysia are continuously looking for ways to delight their customers. You may have heard of coach operators providing sleeping compartments, massage chairs and personal entertainment systems to make your trip up north more comfortable and enjoyable. But have you heard of the ‘chassis class sleeper’? The officers at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had found out on Saturday that this new ’chassis class sleeper’ service is in fact, more costly than any other classes of seats.
2. On 11 December 2010 at about 9am, a Malaysia-registered tour bus arrived at the Woodlands checkpoint bus concourse and sought departure clearance. The bus was not ferrying any passenger except a 35-year-old co-driver who had disembarked for immigration clearance at the bus hall.
3. At the immigration counter, the 36-year-old male Malaysian driver appeared fidgety and stammered when the officers asked him if there were any contraband items on board the bus. The ICA officers’ suspicion was aroused by the driver’s behaviour and they meticulously combed the huge tour bus to search for any hidden items. When the officers opened the luggage compartment at the side of the bus, two men were found hiding in the compartment. The driver, his co-driver and the two ‘unannounced’ passengers were immediately placed under arrest.
Chassis class sleeper costs $700 per pax!
4. During preliminary investigation, both drivers admitted to abetting the illegal departure of the two Bangladeshi nationals who are immigration offenders. Aged 28 and 33 years old, the two Bangladeshi nationals claimed that they had paid an agent $700 each for the trip out of Singapore illegally. As instructed by the agent, the drivers picked up the duo at the vicinity of Kallang and told them to hide in the luggage compartment while on the way to Woodlands checkpoint.
5. The drivers and the immigration offenders are currently under investigation for offences under the Immigration Act. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has been detained and is liable for forfeiture.
6. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners who 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 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. The penalty for conveying illegal immigrants in or out of Singapore is a jail term of two to five years, plus a minimum three strokes of the cane.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
13 DECEMBER 2010
2. On 11 December 2010 at about 9am, a Malaysia-registered tour bus arrived at the Woodlands checkpoint bus concourse and sought departure clearance. The bus was not ferrying any passenger except a 35-year-old co-driver who had disembarked for immigration clearance at the bus hall.
3. At the immigration counter, the 36-year-old male Malaysian driver appeared fidgety and stammered when the officers asked him if there were any contraband items on board the bus. The ICA officers’ suspicion was aroused by the driver’s behaviour and they meticulously combed the huge tour bus to search for any hidden items. When the officers opened the luggage compartment at the side of the bus, two men were found hiding in the compartment. The driver, his co-driver and the two ‘unannounced’ passengers were immediately placed under arrest.
Chassis class sleeper costs $700 per pax!
4. During preliminary investigation, both drivers admitted to abetting the illegal departure of the two Bangladeshi nationals who are immigration offenders. Aged 28 and 33 years old, the two Bangladeshi nationals claimed that they had paid an agent $700 each for the trip out of Singapore illegally. As instructed by the agent, the drivers picked up the duo at the vicinity of Kallang and told them to hide in the luggage compartment while on the way to Woodlands checkpoint.
5. The drivers and the immigration offenders are currently under investigation for offences under the Immigration Act. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has been detained and is liable for forfeiture.
6. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners who 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 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. The penalty for conveying illegal immigrants in or out of Singapore is a jail term of two to five years, plus a minimum three strokes of the cane.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
13 DECEMBER 2010