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Secrets Hidden Under the Bed
In the past, people loved to keep their treasured possessions in tins and hide them under their beds. They believed that their secrets remained safe under the bed without anyone’s knowledge. And the Bangladeshi national thought so too, until his “treasures” of forged immigration extension endorsements and forged Special Passes from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) were found by the ICA officers from under the bed.
2 On the evening of 17 October 2007, ICA officers stopped and checked a 36 year-old male Bangladeshi national at the vicinity of Mustafa Shopping Centre. He was found not in possession of any travel documents. During the check, the officers found a Work Permit Card with tampered expiry date and a passport-sized photograph of an unknown male Bangladeshi national from his pockets.
3 The ICA officers followed up with a raid at the rented room of the subject where another male Bangladeshi national was found there. The ICA officers conducted a thorough search of the unit and found a few forged immigration stamps, numerous photocopies of forged Special Passes from MOM and ICA, one cancelled passport, amongst other forgery paraphernalia, hidden in a suitcase under the bed.
4 Both subjects admitted knowledge of the forgery paraphernalia. The two men, together with the exhibits, were referred to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
5 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.
6 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.
2 On the evening of 17 October 2007, ICA officers stopped and checked a 36 year-old male Bangladeshi national at the vicinity of Mustafa Shopping Centre. He was found not in possession of any travel documents. During the check, the officers found a Work Permit Card with tampered expiry date and a passport-sized photograph of an unknown male Bangladeshi national from his pockets.
3 The ICA officers followed up with a raid at the rented room of the subject where another male Bangladeshi national was found there. The ICA officers conducted a thorough search of the unit and found a few forged immigration stamps, numerous photocopies of forged Special Passes from MOM and ICA, one cancelled passport, amongst other forgery paraphernalia, hidden in a suitcase under the bed.
4 Both subjects admitted knowledge of the forgery paraphernalia. The two men, together with the exhibits, were referred to the Singapore Police Force for further investigations.
5 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.
6 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.