Indonesian Man Jailed, Caned for Fifth Illegal Entry into Singapore
A 26-year-old Indonesian man, identified as Brick, has been sentenced to one-and-a-half years in jail and nine strokes of the cane for illegally entering Singapore for the fifth time, despite having four previous convictions for immigration offenses. The man was arrested by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers after he was found to have entered Singapore without any valid travel documents.
Brick’s Previous Convictions
Brick has a history of immigration offenses, with his first arrest taking place in May 2017. He was sentenced to six weeks’ jail and four strokes of the cane. In January 2018, he was given 14 weeks’ jail and six strokes of the cane for the same offense. Another charge of returning to Singapore illegally was also taken into consideration.
In July 2019, Brick was sentenced to 18 weeks’ jail and seven strokes of the cane for similar immigration offenses. His last recorded conviction in Singapore was in November 2019, where he was charged for entering Singapore without a valid pass and returning illegally after he had been removed from the country. He was then sentenced to a year’s jail and eight strokes of the cane.
Brick’s Latest Offense
Despite being banned from entering Singapore and given a written notice that he would need prior written permission to enter or reside in Singapore in the future, Brick attempted to enter Singapore again in June 2023. He managed to enter the shoreline off Tuas undetected by sailing to Singapore in a sampan from Batam and then swimming to Singapore using an improvised floating device.
Brick pleaded guilty to two charges under the Immigration Act: Entering Singapore without a valid pass, and entering Singapore without written permission when he had been lawfully sent out of the country.
Prosecutor and Judge’s Remarks
The prosecutor and judge agreed that Brick’s sentencing had to be increased, both noting that his past criminal convictions showed his recalcitrance and repeated offending. The prosecutor sought the maximum jail term of six months for entering Singapore without a valid pass, nine strokes of the cane, as well as another year in jail for returning to Singapore illegally.
In mitigation, Brick asked for “the lightest sentences” through a Bahasa Indonesia interpreter, saying he is working for his family and his mother is currently ill. He also said he was “deeply sorry.”
The case highlights the seriousness of immigration offenses and the importance of adhering to immigration laws and regulations. The ICA has been working to strengthen border security and prevent illegal entry into Singapore, and this case serves as a reminder of the consequences of attempting to enter the country illegally.