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Sandwiched In Desperation
On 10 December 2009, before the stroke of midnight, a red and white Malaysian registered Luton van which delivers bread to Singapore pulled into the Woodlands Checkpoint to seek departure clearance. The Malaysian driver and his co-driver presented their passports for immigration clearance. All appeared normal as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer checked through their travel documents and swiftly accorded clearance to the duo. Who would know that beyond the surface of normalcy belies a great deception.
2 Following immigration clearance, the vehicle was directed for a routine check on the supposedly empty carriage. While rummaging the vehicle, the sharp eyed ICA officers caught a glimpse of a silhouette form through the crevices of the empty crates used for transporting the bread. Suspecting it to be the shadow of a person, they removed more rows of the empty crates and true to their instincts; two Chinese women were found sandwiched between the columns of the nested crates.
Immigration offenders found hiding behind the crates
The Luton van used for hiding the immigration offenders
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the two women were Chinese nationals, aged 51 and 48. They admitted that they had entered Singapore to seek illegal employment but decided to leave for Malaysia as they could not find jobs in Singapore. They further claimed that a male Chinese agent had arranged for them to meet the driver at a carpark in the Woodlands area. The driver then instructed them to hide inside the van.
4 The 31-year-old Chinese driver admitted that he had agreed to bring the pair to Malaysia illegally as he was heavily in debt. He had earlier approached his friend, the 44-year-old Chinese co-driver, for opportunities to earn quick bucks. Out of desperation, he had succumbed to an offer of SGD1,600, which he will spilt with the co-driver, to convey the illegal immigrants out of Singapore. Both men have been charged in Court with the offence of Engaging in the Business of Conveying Illegal Immigrants under Section 57(1)(c), Chapter 133 of the Immigration Act on 12 December. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has also been detained and is liable for forfeiture.
5 The two PRC women were also charged in Court for Illegal Entry under Section 6(1)(c), Chapter 133, of the Immigration Act. 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. 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
14 December 2009
2 Following immigration clearance, the vehicle was directed for a routine check on the supposedly empty carriage. While rummaging the vehicle, the sharp eyed ICA officers caught a glimpse of a silhouette form through the crevices of the empty crates used for transporting the bread. Suspecting it to be the shadow of a person, they removed more rows of the empty crates and true to their instincts; two Chinese women were found sandwiched between the columns of the nested crates.
Immigration offenders found hiding behind the crates
The Luton van used for hiding the immigration offenders
3 Preliminary investigation revealed that the two women were Chinese nationals, aged 51 and 48. They admitted that they had entered Singapore to seek illegal employment but decided to leave for Malaysia as they could not find jobs in Singapore. They further claimed that a male Chinese agent had arranged for them to meet the driver at a carpark in the Woodlands area. The driver then instructed them to hide inside the van.
4 The 31-year-old Chinese driver admitted that he had agreed to bring the pair to Malaysia illegally as he was heavily in debt. He had earlier approached his friend, the 44-year-old Chinese co-driver, for opportunities to earn quick bucks. Out of desperation, he had succumbed to an offer of SGD1,600, which he will spilt with the co-driver, to convey the illegal immigrants out of Singapore. Both men have been charged in Court with the offence of Engaging in the Business of Conveying Illegal Immigrants under Section 57(1)(c), Chapter 133 of the Immigration Act on 12 December. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has also been detained and is liable for forfeiture.
5 The two PRC women were also charged in Court for Illegal Entry under Section 6(1)(c), Chapter 133, of the Immigration Act. 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. 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
14 December 2009