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Seventy - Four Feet Under
You would have thought that the dark and dank underground monsoon drains at Old Tampines Road were the domain of only rats and roaches. Yet thirty- seven immigration offenders (IOs) from Myanmar had made it their home.
2 On 22 Mar 05 at 0300 hours, ICA and Police officers conducted an operation at the monsoon drains at Old Tampines Road under the cover of darkness. After about 200 metres into the cavernous drains, the officers encountered a group of IOs sleeping in makeshift beds using discarded wooden doors and planks. They were caught by surprise and had no chance to escape. More groups of IOs were caught as our officers ventured deeper into the labyrinthine drains. A total of 37 immigration offenders were arrested in the underground drains.
3 Our officers found the living conditions in the underground drains to be dirty and muddy. A few had tried to escape but were soon caught by officers guarding the possible escape routes. The 37 male IOs nabbed were aged between 19 and 40.
4 Investigations revealed that 36 of the IOs caught had entered Singapore illegally. The other one had overstayed in Singapore.
5 36 of the IOs were charged in Court on 23 Mar 05. One of them was not charged on medical grounds. In the case of the overstayer, he was sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment and five strokes of the cane. The other illegal immigrants were given sentences ranging from one month's jail sentence and four strokes of the cane to two months' jail sentence and six strokes of the cane.
6 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. "The illegal immigrants' troubles do not end once they reach Singapore; it is the beginning of their hardship. Life will be tougher for them as they will find it difficult to find work or accommodation. On top of that, no matter where they hide, we will continuously seek them out," said Mr A Muhd Thauheed, Head of Field Operations Branch.
7 Together with our Home Team partners, ICA will continue to flush out IOs to maintain the safety and security of our community.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
24 Mar 05
2 On 22 Mar 05 at 0300 hours, ICA and Police officers conducted an operation at the monsoon drains at Old Tampines Road under the cover of darkness. After about 200 metres into the cavernous drains, the officers encountered a group of IOs sleeping in makeshift beds using discarded wooden doors and planks. They were caught by surprise and had no chance to escape. More groups of IOs were caught as our officers ventured deeper into the labyrinthine drains. A total of 37 immigration offenders were arrested in the underground drains.
3 Our officers found the living conditions in the underground drains to be dirty and muddy. A few had tried to escape but were soon caught by officers guarding the possible escape routes. The 37 male IOs nabbed were aged between 19 and 40.
4 Investigations revealed that 36 of the IOs caught had entered Singapore illegally. The other one had overstayed in Singapore.
5 36 of the IOs were charged in Court on 23 Mar 05. One of them was not charged on medical grounds. In the case of the overstayer, he was sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment and five strokes of the cane. The other illegal immigrants were given sentences ranging from one month's jail sentence and four strokes of the cane to two months' jail sentence and six strokes of the cane.
6 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. "The illegal immigrants' troubles do not end once they reach Singapore; it is the beginning of their hardship. Life will be tougher for them as they will find it difficult to find work or accommodation. On top of that, no matter where they hide, we will continuously seek them out," said Mr A Muhd Thauheed, Head of Field Operations Branch.
7 Together with our Home Team partners, ICA will continue to flush out IOs to maintain the safety and security of our community.
END OF NEWS RELEASE
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
24 Mar 05