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Immigration Offenders Travel ‘Business Class’ Out of Singapore
Sneaking out of Singapore using the traditional method of huddling in the boot of a car is so passé, given the tight security measures that have been put in place at the land checkpoints. Moreover, the boot of a car is dark, cramped and stuffy. Hence, three immigration offenders decided to shell out business class fares of between $1,800 and $4,000 to travel in a refrigerated truck out of Singapore. They probably had the luxury of more leg-room.
2. The ruse was uncovered at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 8 October 2007, at around 1.45pm during a routine check. When officers opened the back door of the truck, three persons (two males and one female) were seen hiding among the empty vegetable baskets. All three persons were from China. The woman, 25, had overstayed in Singapore since January 2007. She told ICA officers that she had been working as a prostitute, charging about $70 to $80 per session. The two men, aged 28 and 37, claimed that they came to Singapore to seek illegal employment, and had been working as construction workers with no fixed employers. The younger man was an overstayer, and the other was likely to be an illegal immigrant.
3. The driver and his assistant are both from Malaysia, aged 29 and 17 respectively. Both admitted that they were aware of the passengers at the back of the truck.
Investigations are ongoing
4. ICA is investigating all five persons for immigration-related offences. The truck has also been detained.
Related penalties
5. ICA takes a serious view of immigration offences. Under the Immigration Act, the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying (exceeding 90 days) are – a jail term not exceeding six months, and caning not less than three strokes. In cases where caning cannot be administered, the offender will be fined up to $6,000. 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 and overstay in Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter and overstay, 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. The ruse was uncovered at the Woodlands Checkpoint on 8 October 2007, at around 1.45pm during a routine check. When officers opened the back door of the truck, three persons (two males and one female) were seen hiding among the empty vegetable baskets. All three persons were from China. The woman, 25, had overstayed in Singapore since January 2007. She told ICA officers that she had been working as a prostitute, charging about $70 to $80 per session. The two men, aged 28 and 37, claimed that they came to Singapore to seek illegal employment, and had been working as construction workers with no fixed employers. The younger man was an overstayer, and the other was likely to be an illegal immigrant.
3. The driver and his assistant are both from Malaysia, aged 29 and 17 respectively. Both admitted that they were aware of the passengers at the back of the truck.
Investigations are ongoing
4. ICA is investigating all five persons for immigration-related offences. The truck has also been detained.
Related penalties
5. ICA takes a serious view of immigration offences. Under the Immigration Act, the penalty for illegal entry is a jail term of up to six months, plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The penalties for overstaying (exceeding 90 days) are – a jail term not exceeding six months, and caning not less than three strokes. In cases where caning cannot be administered, the offender will be fined up to $6,000. 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 and overstay in Singapore illegally. Having already risked their lives and the tough penalties to enter and overstay, 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.