On 16 Mar 2004 at about 0115 hours, six immigration offenders (IOs) and their Malaysian driver found out that our Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Woodlands Checkpoint are as vigilant in foiling attempts by foreigners to depart illegally as they are in preventing foreigners from entering Singapore illegally. Four of them were hiding in the car boot of the Malaysia-registered car and two other were lying on the floorboard between the front and back passenger seats. They must have thought that our officers are blind to their attempt to depart illegally.

2 Our ICA officers stopped the car at the Departure Car Bay at Woodlands Checkpoint for a check when they noticed two females lying on the floorboard between the front and back seats in an attempt to evade detection. Feeling suspicious, our officers conducted a thorough check and found four men hiding in the boot of the car. The driver and the six persons were immediately placed under arrest. The car was also seized.

3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the two female IOs, aged 19 and 36, were from Thailand. Of the four male IOs, two were from Nepal (ages being 21 and 25 years old), another was from Bangladesh (aged 24) while another was Thailand (aged 37).

4 Investigations revealed that the 20-year old driver was approached by a male Malaysian Indian in Malaysia to convey IOs out of Singapore illegally. He was promised about RM$100 for each IO conveyed successfully.

5 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. 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.


END OF NEWS RELEASE

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
16 Mar 2004