Immigration offender arrested for trying to leave Singapore

SINGAPORE: A 26—year—old Indian immigration offender has been caught trying to leave Singapore.

On Thursday at about 11.55pm, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Woodlands Checkpoint stopped a Malaysian—registered trailer for a routine check.

The driver and his passenger, both Malaysians, were asked to step out of their vehicle to allow officers to conduct the check.

Officers had their suspicion aroused when both men appeared nervous. ICA officers found a man crouching inside the storage compartment behind the passenger seat.

The driver, passenger and the immigration offender were arrested.

The trailer has been detained and is liable for forfeiture.

Under the Immigration Act , 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.

The penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to $2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

— CNA/de