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First Man Convicted Under Amended Immigration Act
The Immigration Act was amended earlier this year when Section 18(B) was enacted into the law on 15 Jan 2005. This section states that "The driver of a vehicle who wishes to drive into Singapore shall stop his vehicle at an authorized place of embarkation, an authorized point of entry or an immigration control post upon arrival in Singapore." The driver of a vehicle who contravenes this section without reasonable cause shall be guilty of an offence.
2 On 17 Oct 2005, at about 0810 hrs, an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at the Woodlands Checkpoint was manning her booth at the Arrival Car Counter when a red Malaysia-registered Proton Wira whizzed by without stopping. The ICA officer immediately activated the alarm system and clearance for all vehicles in the checkpoint was temporarily disrupted in order to prevent the vehicle from going through. The vehicle in question was very quickly tracked down.
3 A search on the car by ICA and Police officers found nothing incriminating. The driver, a Malaysian Chinese, was found to be travelling without a passport. Upon questioning, the unemployed man claimed that his purpose for coming into Singapore was to visit his wife who was working in Singapore. He was unable to provide further details on his wife, nor explain his urgency in looking for her. He also confessed that he had evaded immigration clearance as he had no travel document on him. The subject was eventually referred to ICA Enforcement Command for further investigations.
4 After considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers, the subject was brought before the court of law and charged on 16 Nov 2005. For attempting an illegal entry into Singapore, he was sentenced to 1 month of imprisonment & 4 strokes of the cane. For failing to stop his vehicle upon arrival in Singapore, he was sentenced with 3 months of imprisonment. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. This is the first conviction for an offence under Section 18(B) of the Immigration Act, since its enactment into the law on 15 Jan 2005.
5 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
17 Nov 2005
2 On 17 Oct 2005, at about 0810 hrs, an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at the Woodlands Checkpoint was manning her booth at the Arrival Car Counter when a red Malaysia-registered Proton Wira whizzed by without stopping. The ICA officer immediately activated the alarm system and clearance for all vehicles in the checkpoint was temporarily disrupted in order to prevent the vehicle from going through. The vehicle in question was very quickly tracked down.
3 A search on the car by ICA and Police officers found nothing incriminating. The driver, a Malaysian Chinese, was found to be travelling without a passport. Upon questioning, the unemployed man claimed that his purpose for coming into Singapore was to visit his wife who was working in Singapore. He was unable to provide further details on his wife, nor explain his urgency in looking for her. He also confessed that he had evaded immigration clearance as he had no travel document on him. The subject was eventually referred to ICA Enforcement Command for further investigations.
4 After considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers, the subject was brought before the court of law and charged on 16 Nov 2005. For attempting an illegal entry into Singapore, he was sentenced to 1 month of imprisonment & 4 strokes of the cane. For failing to stop his vehicle upon arrival in Singapore, he was sentenced with 3 months of imprisonment. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. This is the first conviction for an offence under Section 18(B) of the Immigration Act, since its enactment into the law on 15 Jan 2005.
5 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
17 Nov 2005