Was it the discomfort arising from her pregnancy or was she fidgety due to her nervousness? One would have assumed that it was normal of the heavily pregnant woman to be restless in the car. But to the vigilant Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, such behaviors could be tell-tale signs of guilt and nervousness, even if the person could be heavily pregnant.

2. When the Malaysia-registered saloon car pulled into the Woodlands Checkpoint for departure clearance on 5 July 2010 at about 8.45pm, the ICA officers’ suspicion was already aroused by the lone female driver’s edginess and apprehension. Experienced ICA officers did not think that the visible discomfort was due to her pregnancy. Rather, those non-verbal cues could mean something more to the officers who then directed her car to the inspection area for secondary checks.

3. Nothing incriminating was found when the ICA officers first searched the interior of the car in the presence of the 29-year old mother-to-be. But when she was asked to open the car boot, the ICA officers confirmed that there were more than just the woman and her unborn baby in the vehicle. There was also an ‘unannounced’ passenger – cooped up in the boot. Both the driver and her ‘passenger’ were immediately placed under arrest.

   

The unborn and the uncovered

4. During preliminary investigation, the Malaysian, Chia Kiu Lim, admitted to abetting the illegal departure of 43-year-old Wei Cai Hong from China. Chia claimed that she was approached by a male Malaysian acquaintance whom she knew only as ‘uncle’ to help convey immigration offenders out of Singapore illegally. She claimed that she had separated from her husband and was in financial difficulties. She met ‘uncle’ at the Kranji MRT where he handed over Wei and S$700 to her. Chia then drove to Woodlands Town Centre with Wei and asked the latter to hide inside the car boot before they proceeded to the Woodlands Checkpoint.

5. Wei claimed that she was here on a work permit as a factory worker but her employer had cancelled her permit a few days later without any reason. As she had incurred debts to come here, she continued to stay in Singapore to make money to repay her debts. She had subsequently decided to return to China upon learning that her mother has fallen ill. She had sought help from her Chinese friend to depart Singapore illegally through a Malaysian middleman for S$2,000.

6. Wei Cai Hong was charged and convicted for illegal entry on 7 July. She was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment and fined $2,500 in default 5 weeks’ imprisonment. Chia Kiu Lim’s case has been fixed for further mention next week. The car used in the commission of the offence has also been detained by ICA and is liable for forfeiture.

7. 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.

8. 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
8 JULY 2010