Back to top
33 immigration offenders & two harbourers nabbed
In the early morning of 13 May 2007, enforcement officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) mounted an operation on a residential unit in Joo Chiat Road, arresting a total of 33 Immigration Offenders (IOs) and two harbourers. The Immigration Offenders and the two harbourers were caught by surprise and did not have time to react before they were arrested.
2 Preliminary investigations revealed that the IOs were illegal immigrants and overstayers. Aged between 19 - 65 years old, they had worked as general workers, earning an irregular income of about $15 - $40 daily.
3 All the arrested IOs were male Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. The 33 IOs and two harbourers were subsequently referred to SPF for further investigations.
Related penalties
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.
2 Preliminary investigations revealed that the IOs were illegal immigrants and overstayers. Aged between 19 - 65 years old, they had worked as general workers, earning an irregular income of about $15 - $40 daily.
3 All the arrested IOs were male Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. The 33 IOs and two harbourers were subsequently referred to SPF for further investigations.
Related penalties
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.