Puss in Boots is a classic fairy tale about a cat that uses deceit and trickery to gain power and wealth. To the officers of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), it is certainly no coincidence that this fictional ‘cat’ makes its appearance at the Woodlands Checkpoint attempting to deceive and trick our officers.

2. On 26 May 2010 at about 6.10am, the grey Singapore-registered car was driven by a lone Singaporean man. At the immigration booth, he handed his passport to the ICA officer for immigration clearance. He thought that it was procedure as usual and that he could leave the checkpoint soon after. However, the officer directed him to the Duty Office for further checks. At this juncture, the panic alarm must have sounded in his mind and he began repeatedly asking officers the reasons for checks. He also refused to wind up his car windows upon the officers’ instructions.



The ‘carriage for the puss’



‘Puss in Boots’ or ‘Sleeping Beauty’?

3. The eagle-eyed officers caught his verbal and non-verbal cues almost immediately. Without hesitation, they trained their eyes on the car boot. When the officers opened the car boot, a Chinese woman was found crouched in an otherwise empty boot. Both the Singaporean man and the 41-year-old Chinese woman were immediately placed under arrest.

4. During preliminary investigations, the 58-year-old driver admitted to abetting the illegal departure of the Chinese woman. He was approached by one Malaysian man ‘Chew’ to help convey immigration offenders out of Singapore illegally. He agreed as he ran up gambling debts of about $10,000 and loansharks were pressing him for payment. Upon the successful attempt, he would be paid $800. Subsequently, he met ‘Chew’ at Serangoon area and the Chinese woman was made to stay in the boot from Serangoon all the way to Woodlands Checkpoint. As for the Chinese woman, she decided to return to China as she could not find employment in Singapore.

5. Both the driver 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.
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
27 MAY 2010