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Sleepless in Singapore (For Immigration Offenders)
At five to six in the morning, most people would still be sleeping soundly and peacefully in their beds. But this is not so for immigration offenders (IOs) in this country. No IO can sleep peacefully when he/she knows that he/she has broken the law by coming into Singapore illegally or overstaying here. No IO can sleep peacefully when, after all his/her efforts to come to Singapore, he/she is unable to find illegal employment here. No IO can sleep peacefully when he/she knows that ICA officers who are fiercely dedicated to the cause of weeding out IOs are hot on his/her heels. A total of 61 IOs were caught by ICA officers in two separate operations at private apartments located in Telok Kurau and Flanders Square on 10 and 11 May 2005 respectively.
2 On 10 May 2005 at 0500hrs, officers from ICA's Intelligence Division and Field Operations Command simultaneously raided all the six units in the three-storey private apartment located in Telok Kurau. None of the IOs found in the units tried to escape or put up a struggle, although some tried to hide in the wardrobe or under the bed. Most of the IOs knew that it was game over for them and sat on their beds waiting for our officers to apprehend them.
3 The 46 IOs arrested were PRC nationals. 27 of them were male and their ages ranged from 24 to 51 years old. The 19 females caught were aged between 24 and 47.
4 At a separate operation conducted on 11 May 2005 at 0650 hours, another 15 IOs were arrested at a private apartment unit at Flanders Square. They were Nepalese (fourteen males and one female) and their ages ranged from 23 to 44 years old.
5 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.
6 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 or contact the Police.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
11 May 2005
2 On 10 May 2005 at 0500hrs, officers from ICA's Intelligence Division and Field Operations Command simultaneously raided all the six units in the three-storey private apartment located in Telok Kurau. None of the IOs found in the units tried to escape or put up a struggle, although some tried to hide in the wardrobe or under the bed. Most of the IOs knew that it was game over for them and sat on their beds waiting for our officers to apprehend them.
3 The 46 IOs arrested were PRC nationals. 27 of them were male and their ages ranged from 24 to 51 years old. The 19 females caught were aged between 24 and 47.
4 At a separate operation conducted on 11 May 2005 at 0650 hours, another 15 IOs were arrested at a private apartment unit at Flanders Square. They were Nepalese (fourteen males and one female) and their ages ranged from 23 to 44 years old.
5 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.
6 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 or contact the Police.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
11 May 2005