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Biggest Number of Immigration Offenders Arrested
Right after midnight on 3 April 2004, ICA officers mounted a massive operation against immigration offenders in the vicinity of Admiralty Road hiding in makeshift dwellings. They successfully arrested a total of 82 immigration offenders during the operation, the biggest number caught since the formation of ICA.
2 The 82 male immigration offenders nabbed were from Indian, Myanmar Bangladesh and Thailand and aged between 16 and 51. The majority were suspected to have entered Singapore illegally. They were woken up from their slumber in the crowded makeshift dwellings and were swiftly rounded up by our officers.
3 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.
4 ICA will not let up on eliminating the presence of immigration offenders in Singapore. "This latest operation which resulted in the successful arrest of 82 Immigration offenders is yet another example of our resolve to further reduce the population of immigration offenders in Singapore," said Mr Lock Wai Han, Commissioner, ICA.
5 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 would 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
3 Apr 2004
2 The 82 male immigration offenders nabbed were from Indian, Myanmar Bangladesh and Thailand and aged between 16 and 51. The majority were suspected to have entered Singapore illegally. They were woken up from their slumber in the crowded makeshift dwellings and were swiftly rounded up by our officers.
3 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.
4 ICA will not let up on eliminating the presence of immigration offenders in Singapore. "This latest operation which resulted in the successful arrest of 82 Immigration offenders is yet another example of our resolve to further reduce the population of immigration offenders in Singapore," said Mr Lock Wai Han, Commissioner, ICA.
5 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 would 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
3 Apr 2004