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What Came Out of the Toilet, and Went Down the Toilet
Case 1
A Bangladesh national and his accomplices had been blithely running an enterprise from a toilet to provide forged immigration endorsements to other Bangladeshi immigration offenders for a fee, without knowing the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) was keeping a close watch on them for several weeks. Their efforts soon went down the toilet when they were arrested on 29 November 2006.
2. The forged endorsement stamps and other paraphernalia were stashed in the flushing system of a toilet cubicle, no less. The toilet was located in a food centre at Clementi Avenue 3. At around 7pm, ICA officers caught sight of the forger with his middleman in front of a HDB block. The forger then made his way to the food centre, and exchanged a few words with the caretaker of the toilet. The caretaker then moved aside to allow the forger to open a metal cabinet next to the toilet’s counter. About 50 minutes later, the middleman also made his way to the toilet. ICA officers then launched into action. Upon seeing our officers, the forger attempted to put up a struggle but was soon subdued. All three men were arrested. The forgery paraphernalia, which comprised forged rubber stamps, glue and an ink pad were also seized.
3. All three men are Bangladesh nationals, aged between 30 and 52. The forger and the caretaker are Special Pass holders, while the middleman is an illegal immigrant.
4. When interviewed, the forger admitted ownership of the items found. The caretaker of the toilet admitted to letting the forger use the toilet. He will be investigated for suspected abetment. The middleman admitted that he had assisted the forger by recommending new customers to the forger.
5. All three men and the seized items have been handed over to the Police for investigations.
Case 2
6. At the same time, ICA officers were also keeping tabs on another Bangladesh national who has been producing forged immigration endorsements to sell to immigration offenders from his community to facilitate their unlawful stay in Singapore.
7. A raid was conducted at a hotel room in Geylang on 28 November 2006, at around 2pm. The forger was found with nine other male Bangladesh nationals. All ten men were taken into custody to assist in investigations.
8. When interviewed, the forger revealed that he charged S$180 for a forged Special Pass and S$50 for each forged endorsement. He then led ICA officers to a duct room located at a factory in Kallang Way, where his forgery paraphernalia were kept.
9. The ten men, all Bangladesh nationals, comprised five Special Pass holders, four immigration offenders and a work pass holder. They were aged between 18 and 35.
Related penalties
10. Under the Penal Code, anyone who makes or counterfeits any seal, plate or other instrument for making an impression, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
11. Under the Immigration Act, 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.
A Bangladesh national and his accomplices had been blithely running an enterprise from a toilet to provide forged immigration endorsements to other Bangladeshi immigration offenders for a fee, without knowing the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) was keeping a close watch on them for several weeks. Their efforts soon went down the toilet when they were arrested on 29 November 2006.
2. The forged endorsement stamps and other paraphernalia were stashed in the flushing system of a toilet cubicle, no less. The toilet was located in a food centre at Clementi Avenue 3. At around 7pm, ICA officers caught sight of the forger with his middleman in front of a HDB block. The forger then made his way to the food centre, and exchanged a few words with the caretaker of the toilet. The caretaker then moved aside to allow the forger to open a metal cabinet next to the toilet’s counter. About 50 minutes later, the middleman also made his way to the toilet. ICA officers then launched into action. Upon seeing our officers, the forger attempted to put up a struggle but was soon subdued. All three men were arrested. The forgery paraphernalia, which comprised forged rubber stamps, glue and an ink pad were also seized.
3. All three men are Bangladesh nationals, aged between 30 and 52. The forger and the caretaker are Special Pass holders, while the middleman is an illegal immigrant.
4. When interviewed, the forger admitted ownership of the items found. The caretaker of the toilet admitted to letting the forger use the toilet. He will be investigated for suspected abetment. The middleman admitted that he had assisted the forger by recommending new customers to the forger.
5. All three men and the seized items have been handed over to the Police for investigations.
Case 2
6. At the same time, ICA officers were also keeping tabs on another Bangladesh national who has been producing forged immigration endorsements to sell to immigration offenders from his community to facilitate their unlawful stay in Singapore.
7. A raid was conducted at a hotel room in Geylang on 28 November 2006, at around 2pm. The forger was found with nine other male Bangladesh nationals. All ten men were taken into custody to assist in investigations.
8. When interviewed, the forger revealed that he charged S$180 for a forged Special Pass and S$50 for each forged endorsement. He then led ICA officers to a duct room located at a factory in Kallang Way, where his forgery paraphernalia were kept.
9. The ten men, all Bangladesh nationals, comprised five Special Pass holders, four immigration offenders and a work pass holder. They were aged between 18 and 35.
Related penalties
10. Under the Penal Code, anyone who makes or counterfeits any seal, plate or other instrument for making an impression, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to fine.
11. Under the Immigration Act, 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.