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Red Carpet Treatment That Was Not Meant To Be
Once upon a time, the red carpet treatment was reserved for the kings and queens. Now, such lavish reception is laid out to accommodate the steps of important personages. And for two Myanmar nationals, they decided to allow themselves the luxury of first-class hospitality on their departure from Singapore, and covered themselves with a red carpet. However, they did not “leave” happily ever after.
2. A Malaysian-registered truck arrived at the Tuas Checkpoint on 29 November 2007 at about 1854 hrs for departure clearance. The truck, driven by a 49 year-old male Malaysian, was directed by the officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for routine checks. The vigilant ICA officers found two men hiding behind the seats in the driver’s cabin, covered by a red carpet. Both immigration offenders, aged 30 and 24, were subsequently established to be illegal immigrants (IIs). They were found not in possession of any travel document.
3. Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver was paid $450 per person to smuggle the Myanmar nationals out of Singapore. The fee would be paid by an unknown agent who would collect $600 each from the illegal immigrants.
4. ICA is investigating all three persons for immigration-related offences. The truck used in commission of the offence has also been detained.
Related penalties
5. ICA takes a serious view of immigration offences. Under the Immigration Act, the penalty for illegal entry or departure is a jail term of up to six months, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The penalty for conveying illegal immigrants in or out of Singapore is a jail term of two to five years, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
Potential problems caused by illegal immigrants
6. ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter, immigration offenders pose potential law and order problems as they may turn to crime when faced with difficulties in finding illegal employment and assimilating into societies. ICA will continue to work with our strategic partners to flush out immigration offenders to maintain the safety and security of the community.
2. A Malaysian-registered truck arrived at the Tuas Checkpoint on 29 November 2007 at about 1854 hrs for departure clearance. The truck, driven by a 49 year-old male Malaysian, was directed by the officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for routine checks. The vigilant ICA officers found two men hiding behind the seats in the driver’s cabin, covered by a red carpet. Both immigration offenders, aged 30 and 24, were subsequently established to be illegal immigrants (IIs). They were found not in possession of any travel document.
3. Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver was paid $450 per person to smuggle the Myanmar nationals out of Singapore. The fee would be paid by an unknown agent who would collect $600 each from the illegal immigrants.
4. ICA is investigating all three persons for immigration-related offences. The truck used in commission of the offence has also been detained.
Related penalties
5. ICA takes a serious view of immigration offences. Under the Immigration Act, the penalty for illegal entry or departure is a jail term of up to six months, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The penalty for conveying illegal immigrants in or out of Singapore is a jail term of two to five years, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
Potential problems caused by illegal immigrants
6. ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter, immigration offenders pose potential law and order problems as they may turn to crime when faced with difficulties in finding illegal employment and assimilating into societies. ICA will continue to work with our strategic partners to flush out immigration offenders to maintain the safety and security of the community.