Source: ICA
On 14 October 2018 at about 9.20pm, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers stopped a departing Malaysia-registered bus driven by a male Malaysian for checks at the Tuas checkpoint. The ICA officers spoke to the 37-year-old driver and noticed that he was visibly nervous. Sensing something amiss, the officers conducted thorough checks of the bus and found a man hiding in the luggage compartment.
2. Preliminary investigations revealed that the “illegal passenger” is a 25-year-old male Indian national who is due to appear in Court for another case. The driver was promised SGD $700 by an unknown agent if he successfully conveyed the male Indian national out of Singapore illegally. The driver and the man will be charged in court on 16 October for offences under the Immigration Act.
3. The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners who overstay, enter or depart 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, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
4. Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. The ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.