A 26-year-old Indian national has been charged in court after allegedly allowing 13 immigration offenders to stay in a Hougang HDB flat despite their passes having expired.
The case comes as Singapore authorities continue tightening enforcement against illegal overstayers, unlawful employment practices, and those who harbour immigration offenders within residential properties.
According to a statement released by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, three individuals — including two Singaporeans and one foreign national — were charged on May 21 for separate immigration-related offences.
The most serious case involved a raid conducted by ICA officers at a unit located in Hougang Avenue 10 earlier this year.
13 Indian Nationals Found Staying Illegally In Hougang Unit
During an enforcement operation on March 3, officers raided a flat at Block 405 Hougang Avenue 10, where they discovered 13 Indian nationals allegedly overstaying in Singapore after their visit passes had expired.
The group consisted of 11 men and two women aged between 19 and 44 years old.
Investigations revealed that the individuals had allegedly been staying in the flat between December 2025 and March 2026. Authorities claimed the accused, identified as Kanojiya Riken, had failed to conduct proper due diligence checks to confirm whether the occupants possessed valid immigration passes.
Under Singapore law, landlords and tenants who knowingly or negligently harbour overstayers can face severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
Those convicted of knowingly or recklessly harbouring immigration offenders may face between six months and two years’ jail, alongside fines of up to S$6,000. Individuals found guilty of negligent harbouring may still face up to 12 months’ imprisonment and financial penalties.
The 13 overstayers were later deported and permanently barred from returning to Singapore after receiving stern warnings from the authorities.
Two Singaporeans Also Charged Over Employment Offences
The ICA also announced charges against two Singaporeans accused of illegally employing immigration offenders after their work permits or passes had expired.
One of them, 37-year-old Song Yi Da, allegedly continued employing an Indian national at engineering company Phyllis Engineering Pte Ltd even after the worker’s permit expired in May 2025.
Authorities stated that the employee remained unlawfully in Singapore after his permit lapsed, while Song allegedly failed to renew the work authorisation and continued employing him.
If convicted, he could face a jail sentence of between six months and two years, in addition to financial penalties.
Meanwhile, another Singaporean, identified as Suba Priyadarshini d/o Ananthan Jothi, was accused of employing a worker whose work permit had been cancelled due to unpaid levy obligations.
The worker was subsequently issued a Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP), but investigators alleged that no successful application for a replacement work permit was made before the STVP expired.
Allegedly Used Altered Pass Documents
The case involving Suba became more serious after authorities alleged she had obtained unlawfully altered STVP documents and misled the worker into believing he was still legally allowed to remain in Singapore.
The worker was eventually arrested, issued a stern warning, deported, and barred from re-entering the country.
Singapore authorities reiterated that employers and landlords carry legal responsibility to verify the immigration status of foreign tenants and workers before offering accommodation or employment.
The ICA advised landlords to inspect original immigration documents carefully, compare details against passports, and verify pass validity directly with the Ministry of Manpower or ICA systems.
The authorities added that they would continue taking a “firm stance” against those who facilitate illegal stays or employment arrangements in Singapore.