A 40-year-old Chinese national, Zheng Guiling (Zheng), and a 64-year-old male Singaporean, Lim Peng Boon (Lim), were convicted and sentenced on 17 July 2019 and 24 July 2019 respectively for offences under the Immigration Act.

2          Investigations revealed that in September 2014, Zheng who was on a 30-day Visit Pass was introduced to Lim through a friend. At the meeting, Zheng informed Lim that she wanted to stay and work in Singapore. Lim then suggested to Zheng that he could help her find a local husband who could enter into a marriage of convenience (MOC) with her so that she could prolong her stay in Singapore. Lim also told Zheng to pay S$8,000 for the sham marriage arrangements, of which S$6,000 would be given to her prospective husband.

3          Sometime towards the end of September 2014, Lim introduced Zheng to a 54-year-old Singaporean, Loh Chee Wai (Loh), who agreed to enter into a sham marriage. Zheng gave Lim S$1,500 and later paid the remaining amount of S$6,500 after the couple solemnised their marriage on 22 October 2014. Lim in turn gave S$3,000 to Loh after the solemnisation, and told Loh that the remaining S$3,000 would be paid by Zheng in instalments.

4          Loh and Zheng were arrested by officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on 30 May 2018 for entering into a MOC. Loh and Zheng were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on 14 December 2018 and 17 July 2019 respectively. For arranging the MOC, Lim was arrested on 14 January 2019 and sentenced on 24 July 2019 to 11 months’ imprisonment and a fine of S$8,000 in default two months’ imprisonment.

5          ICA takes a serious view of individuals trying to circumvent our system by engaging in or arranging/assisting to arrange marriages of convenience to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore. The penalties for the offence are a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

6          ICA will continue to take firm enforcement action against errant couples and middlemen. We will spare no effort in investigating such cases, and will pursue every available lead. We welcome members of the public to report any suspected case of marriage of convenience to ICA at 1800-391 6150. Any information provided will be treated in strictest confidence.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
29 JULY 2019

Photo:

Zheng Guiling was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment (Photo: ICA)	Lim Peng Boon was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment and a fine of S$8,000 in default two months’ imprisonment (Photo: ICA)	Loh Chee Wai was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment (Photo: ICA)