A 45-year-old Malaysian man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail after helping two fellow Malaysians attempt to leave Singapore illegally by hiding inside the boot of a car.
Court documents revealed that the man acted as a middleman in the operation, coordinating instructions between an unidentified individual and a driver tasked with transporting the pair across the border. The illegal plan ultimately failed when authorities discovered the men during checks at Woodlands Checkpoint.
The incident highlights Singapore’s strict immigration enforcement, where both illegal entry and illegal departure are treated as serious offences under the law.
Smuggling Plan Offered For Cash Reward
According to court proceedings, the 45-year-old, identified as Tan Chee Onn, was approached around July 2025 by an unknown person referred to as “boss”. The individual offered him RM2,500, equivalent to about S$806, if he could arrange for two Malaysians to be transported out of Singapore.
The two men involved, aged 30 and 32, had previous convictions in Singapore. Their passports had been confiscated, preventing them from leaving the country through legal channels.
Despite knowing this, Tan agreed to assist and began organising the illegal operation.
He later contacted a 21-year-old driver named Muhammad Izzul Islam bin Abdul Haqq, whom he knew through another acquaintance identified as Lee. Tan offered Izzul RM1,500 (around S$483) as payment for driving the men across the border.
How The Attempted Escape Was Carried Out
On the night of July 4, 2025, Tan met Lee and Izzul at a restaurant in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. After the meeting, the group went to a car rental company to obtain a vehicle, with Tan paying for the rental.
Tan also handed a mobile phone to Izzul so they could remain in contact throughout the journey.
Izzul then drove the rented car into Singapore through Woodlands Checkpoint while Tan remained in Malaysia. Tan’s role was to relay instructions between the driver and the unidentified “boss”.
Once inside Singapore, Izzul followed directions to a heavy vehicle carpark in Woodlands where he met the two men. They climbed into the car’s boot before the driver headed back towards the checkpoint to exit Singapore.
However, the plan quickly unravelled.
Immigration officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) selected the Malaysian-registered vehicle for additional screening at around 3:45am on July 5, 2025. During the inspection, officers discovered the two men hiding inside the boot.
All three Malaysians were arrested immediately and later charged in court.
Arrest And Legal Consequences
Tan himself was arrested months later on January 13, 2026, when he attempted to enter Singapore through Tuas Checkpoint. He had remained outside Singapore following the failed smuggling attempt.
He faced two charges but eventually pleaded guilty to one. The second charge was taken into consideration during sentencing.
The court sentenced him to 10 months’ imprisonment.
An ICA spokesperson reiterated that Singapore takes a firm stance against individuals who attempt to enter or leave the country illegally, as well as those who assist them.
Under Singapore’s Immigration Act, anyone convicted of helping another person depart the country unlawfully faces a minimum jail term of six months and may also be fined up to S$6,000.
Authorities continue to stress that strict border security measures remain in place to deter such illegal activities and safeguard Singapore’s immigration system.