An Indonesian man, 36-year-old Nordin, who had previously entered Singapore illegally via a speedboat in the early hours of November 20, hoping to find a job here, has since been sentenced on December 4 to one year imprisonment and 5 strokes of the cane, according to The Straits Times.
The court had heard that this was actually not his first attempt at entering Singapore illegally, and that he had previously been found guilty of Immigration offences from 2015 to 2019.
As such, he was convicted of 2 charges under the Immigration Act.
Recap
In the quiet hours of the night on November 20, the tranquil Tanah Merah Coast Road became a stage for a high-stakes operation as two Indonesian men attempted to enter Singapore unlawfully by sea, according to a report by The Straits Times.
The Coast Guard’s surveillance system, a silent sentinel in the dark, detected a fast-moving craft heading towards the shoreline at 11.58 pm.
Detection of the Fast-Moving Craft
The sudden blip on the surveillance radar triggered a swift response from law enforcement. The craft, skillfully avoiding floating sea barriers at the entrance of Tanah Merah Canal, landed on the coast nearby.
What ensued was a meticulously coordinated operation involving the Police Coast Guard (PCG), Bedok Police Division, the Gurkha Contingent, and the Special Operations Command.
The collaboration among these units underscored the gravity of the situation. Within seven hours of detection, the 33 and 36-year-old suspects were apprehended.
Shockingly, they were found without any valid travel documents. The vessel, a modest 5m fibreglass sampan equipped with an onboard motor, was confiscated.