Tight border control measures have led officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to bust yet another attempted illegal departure via our checkpoints. Are they plain ignorant of the consequence for abetting the illegal departure of an immigration offender or are they blatantly challenging the authorities? Either way, their plans are doomed to fail.

2 The date was 3 November 2009 and it was a usual sight at the Woodlands Checkpoint. Travellers, shoppers and workers, tired from a day out, were making their way home through one of the world’s busiest land checkpoint. As the night drew on, the cars continued to flow in a seemingly endless manner. It was thirty minutes past midnight when a seemingly innocuous Malaysia- registered car pulled into the departure zone of the Woodlands Checkpoint.



Seemingly innocuous car

3 The grey Proton Waja was driven by a lone Malaysian Chinese man. At the immigration booth, he handed his work permit and passport to the ICA officer for immigration clearance. Thinking that he was just another tired worker who was returning after a hard day’s work, the officer accorded the necessary immigration clearance swiftly and he moved off with an appreciative nod. As the car proceeded to the secondary check area, the driver was signaled to stop for checks.




Illegal immigrant in car boot

4 When the officers opened the car boot, a Chinese man who looked to be in his early 20s, was found crouched in an otherwise empty boot. The driver and the illegal immigrant were immediately placed under arrest.

5 Preliminary investigations revealed that the illegal immigrant was a 24-year old Malaysian. He claimed to have lost his passport when he fled the scene during a raid conducted by the Police. He was then assisting to unpack duty unpaid cigarettes. Fearing to face the consequence of the law, he made arrangements to leave the country illegally.

6 The driver, a 32-year old Malaysian, claimed that he was paid RM300 to send the man out of Singapore. Both the driver and the immigration offender are currently under investigation for their offences. The vehicle used in the commission of this offence has been detained and is liable for forfeiture.

7 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. The vehicle used in the smuggling of the illegal immigrants will also be seized and liable for forfeiture.

END OF NEWS RELEASE
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
3 November 2009