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What Lies Beneath
This is not a review of the movie starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer. However, as ICA officers discovered on 12 May 05 at 1950 hours, what lies beneath the carpeted floor of a bus is something equally sinister. About 16,000 pieces of illegal discs were found hidden in a secret compartment of the Malaysian registered bus by our alert officers.
2 At the Bus Arrival Bay at Woodlands Checkpoint, a female ICA officer boarded the bus to conduct a routine check. She prodded and poked, she searched and scrutinised to make sure that no undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband are smuggled into Singapore. When she lifted up part of the carpet, she discovered a secured compartment on the floorboard. Together with another ICA officer, they managed to pry open the compartment and found cartons of boxes in it containing CDs, VCDs and DVDs. The 32-year old Malaysian male driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle detained.
3 A thorough search of the boxes uncovered 5,500 discs suspected to be obscene (4,400 VCDs and 1,100 DVDs) and 9,600 discs suspected to be uncensored (6,600 VCDs and 3,000 DVDs). Another 900 CDs were also found in the boxes. The value of the 16,000 pieces of illegal discs is estimated to have a street value of about S$21,700/- and the GST involved amounted to $1,100/-. Our preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was promised RM400 for each successful delivery. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
4 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.
5 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. Our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders. We would like to warn the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
13 May 2005
2 At the Bus Arrival Bay at Woodlands Checkpoint, a female ICA officer boarded the bus to conduct a routine check. She prodded and poked, she searched and scrutinised to make sure that no undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband are smuggled into Singapore. When she lifted up part of the carpet, she discovered a secured compartment on the floorboard. Together with another ICA officer, they managed to pry open the compartment and found cartons of boxes in it containing CDs, VCDs and DVDs. The 32-year old Malaysian male driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle detained.
3 A thorough search of the boxes uncovered 5,500 discs suspected to be obscene (4,400 VCDs and 1,100 DVDs) and 9,600 discs suspected to be uncensored (6,600 VCDs and 3,000 DVDs). Another 900 CDs were also found in the boxes. The value of the 16,000 pieces of illegal discs is estimated to have a street value of about S$21,700/- and the GST involved amounted to $1,100/-. Our preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was promised RM400 for each successful delivery. The case has been referred to Singapore Police Force for further investigation.
4 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.
5 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. Our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders. We would like to warn the public against smuggling unlawful goods illegally into Singapore.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
13 May 2005