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Point of Departure
Those who had watched the first episode of Mediacorp’s production ‘’Point of Entry’’ would have remembered the tense moments when a pair of siblings was attempting to enter Singapore illegally by hiding in a modified secret compartment of a car. Both siblings were gasping for air in the confined space under the sweltering heat. Was it mere drama or do we see such incidents occurring in real life? To the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint, such incidents can certainly be real.
2. On 3 December 2010 at about 9.30pm, a Malaysia-registered saloon car was directed to the departure inspection area for further checks. The Malaysian driver was extremely uncomfortable and started to fidget nervously when the officers asked him if he had any contraband or prohibited items in his possession. This roused the suspicion of the sharp and alert ICA officers. When the officers opened the car boot, a Chinese man was found crouching and sweating profusely inside it. The driver, his two passengers and the Chinese man were immediately placed under arrest.
The undeclared passenger
3. During preliminary investigations, the 29-year-old Malaysian driver admitted to abetting the illegal departure of the 38-year-old PRC national, a suspected overstayer. The driver revealed that he was promised RM500 by his Malaysian friend if he successfully conveyed the immigration offender out of Singapore illegally. The driver picked up the male PRC national at the vicinity of Woodlands Town area and told him to hide in the car boot while on the way to Woodlands Checkpoint. The male immigration offender recounted that the arrangement for his illegal departure from Singapore was made by an agent for a fee of $2,000.
4. The driver, passengers and the immigration offender are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has been detained and is liable for forfeiture. 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 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.
5. Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. We conduct stringent 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
6 DECEMBER 2010
2. On 3 December 2010 at about 9.30pm, a Malaysia-registered saloon car was directed to the departure inspection area for further checks. The Malaysian driver was extremely uncomfortable and started to fidget nervously when the officers asked him if he had any contraband or prohibited items in his possession. This roused the suspicion of the sharp and alert ICA officers. When the officers opened the car boot, a Chinese man was found crouching and sweating profusely inside it. The driver, his two passengers and the Chinese man were immediately placed under arrest.
The undeclared passenger
3. During preliminary investigations, the 29-year-old Malaysian driver admitted to abetting the illegal departure of the 38-year-old PRC national, a suspected overstayer. The driver revealed that he was promised RM500 by his Malaysian friend if he successfully conveyed the immigration offender out of Singapore illegally. The driver picked up the male PRC national at the vicinity of Woodlands Town area and told him to hide in the car boot while on the way to Woodlands Checkpoint. The male immigration offender recounted that the arrangement for his illegal departure from Singapore was made by an agent for a fee of $2,000.
4. The driver, passengers and the immigration offender are currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has been detained and is liable for forfeiture. 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 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.
5. Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. We conduct stringent 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
6 DECEMBER 2010