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Covered Discs ‘Disc-Covered’ By ICA
Four smugglers found out, in separate incidents, that ICA also stands for ‘I Check All’, when their attempts to smuggle illegal optical discs into Singapore were thwarted by ICA officers at Woodlands checkpoint. A total of 6,700 pieces of illegal optical discs were detected in the four smuggling incidents.
Case 1 – Secret compartment in modified fuel tank
2 On 18 April 2006 at about 0750 hours, a 33-year-old Malaysian was driving his Malaysia-registered car through Woodlands Checkpoint when he was stopped by an ICA officer for a routine check. He appeared very nervous and avoided eye contact with the officer. Sensing something amiss, our Task Force officers were deployed to conduct a thorough check on the driver and his car. In the course of the check, the officers detected about 1795 pieces of optical discs suspected to be obscene and uncensored hidden in a modified fuel tank located under the rear passenger seat. The driver admitted ownership and was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
Case 2 – Secret compartments underneath floorboard and dash panel
3 On the same day at about 1836 hours, ICA officers directed a Malaysia-registered multi-purpose car for a routine check. In the course of the search, the alert ICA officer discovered a secret compartment beneath the dash panel. The dash panel top was removed to reveal bundles of optical discs concealed in the secret compartment. After a thorough check, ICA officers uncovered more optical discs in another secret compartment underneath the floorboard. A total of 4882 pieces of optical discs were detected. The 28-year-old Malaysian driver admitted ownership of the optical discs and revealed that he was promised about RM300 to deliver the optical discs to Singapore.
Cases 3 and 4 – Under the driver seats
4 On 19 April 2006, two men were caught smuggling illegal optical discs within 35 minutes of each other at Woodlands checkpoint. The first man, a 25-year-old Singaporean arrived at Woodlands checkpoint on his motorcycle at 0440 hours. A search was conducted on him and his motorcycle and 14 pieces of optical discs suspected to be uncensored and obscene were found under the seat. The second man, a 23-year-old Malaysian man had his Malaysia-registered car stopped for a routine check at about 0515 hours. Checkpoint officers found nine pieces of optical discs suspected to be uncensored under the driver seat. Both admitted ownership to the discs and were arrested
5 The four cases were referred to Police for further investigation. Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
6 As our country’s first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA has a duty to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We have tightened our security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and contraband items.
Case 1 – Secret compartment in modified fuel tank
2 On 18 April 2006 at about 0750 hours, a 33-year-old Malaysian was driving his Malaysia-registered car through Woodlands Checkpoint when he was stopped by an ICA officer for a routine check. He appeared very nervous and avoided eye contact with the officer. Sensing something amiss, our Task Force officers were deployed to conduct a thorough check on the driver and his car. In the course of the check, the officers detected about 1795 pieces of optical discs suspected to be obscene and uncensored hidden in a modified fuel tank located under the rear passenger seat. The driver admitted ownership and was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
Case 2 – Secret compartments underneath floorboard and dash panel
3 On the same day at about 1836 hours, ICA officers directed a Malaysia-registered multi-purpose car for a routine check. In the course of the search, the alert ICA officer discovered a secret compartment beneath the dash panel. The dash panel top was removed to reveal bundles of optical discs concealed in the secret compartment. After a thorough check, ICA officers uncovered more optical discs in another secret compartment underneath the floorboard. A total of 4882 pieces of optical discs were detected. The 28-year-old Malaysian driver admitted ownership of the optical discs and revealed that he was promised about RM300 to deliver the optical discs to Singapore.
Cases 3 and 4 – Under the driver seats
4 On 19 April 2006, two men were caught smuggling illegal optical discs within 35 minutes of each other at Woodlands checkpoint. The first man, a 25-year-old Singaporean arrived at Woodlands checkpoint on his motorcycle at 0440 hours. A search was conducted on him and his motorcycle and 14 pieces of optical discs suspected to be uncensored and obscene were found under the seat. The second man, a 23-year-old Malaysian man had his Malaysia-registered car stopped for a routine check at about 0515 hours. Checkpoint officers found nine pieces of optical discs suspected to be uncensored under the driver seat. Both admitted ownership to the discs and were arrested
5 The four cases were referred to Police for further investigation. Under Copyright Act (Cap 63), persons found guilty of selling or distributing articles of any work in which copyright or trademark subsists are liable to a fine of up to $10,000/- per article (or up to a maximum fine of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 5 years. Under Films Act (Cap 107), persons found guilty of importing obscene films are liable to a fine not less than $1,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $40,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 12 months. Repeat offenders are liable to a fine not less than $2,000/- for each film imported (but not exceeding aggregate of $100,000/-), and/or to a jail term up to 2 years.
6 As our country’s first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA has a duty to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We have tightened our security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and contraband items.