We are not referring to the famous lasagne-loving cat who has arrived in Singapore amidst much fanfare, but a Person Undertaking Secret Slip-away (or PUSS for short) hiding in the boot of a Singapore-registered car. On 3 Sep at 0005 hours, a female illegal immigrant was caught by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers when she tried to depart the country illegally through Woodlands checkpoint. The driver of the car was also arrested.

2 Our ICA officers had stopped the car at the Departure Car Bay at Woodlands Checkpoint for a routine check when they noticed that the driver appeared nervous. A thorough check was conducted and the woman was found hiding in the boot of the car. The driver and the female illegal immigrant were immediately placed under arrest, and the car was also seized.

3 Investigations revealed that the 35-year old female illegal immigrant was a Myanmar national. The Singaporean driver, a 27-year old man was promised S$650 to smuggle the illegal immigrant out of Singapore in his car.

4 Mr Wong Kong Wa, Commander (Field Operations) commented that `it is not often that a Singaporean is arrested and a Singapore-registered car seized for conveying illegal offenders out of Singapore. We have stepped up security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints. Anyone caught smuggling undesirable people and goods will be arrested, regardless of his or her nationality.

5 ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the smuggler faces a mandatory jail term of up to 5 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane. 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 conveyor of these immigration offenders faces a minimum jail term of 2 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane.

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
3 Sep 2004