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Reunion Behind Bars
As we prepare to usher in the Year of the Rat, families traditionally gather together for a reunion dinner on Lunar New Year's Eve. For 37 immigration offenders, they will be fulfilling this time-honored tradition behind bars.
2 As Singapore slumbers in the wee hours of 4 February 2008, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted a series of raids against immigration offenders (IOs) sanctuaries at HDB units and an unlicensed lodging house.
3 The series of raids resulted in the arrest of 37 immigration offenders, 1 Myanmese harbourer and 4 Singaporean harbourers. These immigration offenders comprising mainly nationals from the Bangladesh, Nigeria, India, Myanmar and the People Republic of China, were aged between 15 and 52 years old. Of these immigration offenders, there were 15 overstayers, 10 illegal immigrants, 4 unlawful returns, 6 Special Pass abscondees, 1 Work Permit Pass abscondee and 1 suspected illegal worker. They were accordingly referred to the Singapore Police Force as well as ICA for further investigations.
4 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to overstay or enter 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.
5 ICA would also like to remind the public that it is an offence to offer shelter and employment to immigration offenders. Homeowners can make use of ICA’s online checking system, called “VERIFI” (or Verification of Foreigner Immigration Status) to verify the immigration passes of their prospective tenants. VERIFI can be accessed through ICA’s internet website: http://www.ica.gov.sg and allows users to receive an instantaneous reply on the validity of the immigration passes presented to them. Similarly, MOM has a system to allow the checking on the validity of work passes at its website: http://www.mom.gov.sg. Everyone has a part to play in keeping Singapore safe and secure. We urge members of public with information regarding immigration offenders to call ICA at Tel: 1800-391 6150 or contact the Police.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
2 As Singapore slumbers in the wee hours of 4 February 2008, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted a series of raids against immigration offenders (IOs) sanctuaries at HDB units and an unlicensed lodging house.
3 The series of raids resulted in the arrest of 37 immigration offenders, 1 Myanmese harbourer and 4 Singaporean harbourers. These immigration offenders comprising mainly nationals from the Bangladesh, Nigeria, India, Myanmar and the People Republic of China, were aged between 15 and 52 years old. Of these immigration offenders, there were 15 overstayers, 10 illegal immigrants, 4 unlawful returns, 6 Special Pass abscondees, 1 Work Permit Pass abscondee and 1 suspected illegal worker. They were accordingly referred to the Singapore Police Force as well as ICA for further investigations.
4 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to overstay or enter 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.
5 ICA would also like to remind the public that it is an offence to offer shelter and employment to immigration offenders. Homeowners can make use of ICA’s online checking system, called “VERIFI” (or Verification of Foreigner Immigration Status) to verify the immigration passes of their prospective tenants. VERIFI can be accessed through ICA’s internet website: http://www.ica.gov.sg and allows users to receive an instantaneous reply on the validity of the immigration passes presented to them. Similarly, MOM has a system to allow the checking on the validity of work passes at its website: http://www.mom.gov.sg. Everyone has a part to play in keeping Singapore safe and secure. We urge members of public with information regarding immigration offenders to call ICA at Tel: 1800-391 6150 or contact the Police.
END OF NEWS RELEASE