By Massita Ahmad
SINGAPORE, Aug 6 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Two Malaysians were arrested for attempting to smuggle a Bangladeshi man out of Singapore, according to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
On its website, ICA said on Aug 5 around 8.20 pm, its officers stopped a departing Malaysia-registered car for checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint.
The car was driven by a 28-year-old Malaysian woman and she was accompanied by a 33-year-old Malaysian female passenger.
While conducting checks, ICA said, its officers found a man hiding in the car boot and immediately placed the man and the two women under arrest.
“The illegal passenger was not in possession of any travel document. He was later established to be a 31-year-old Bangladesh national. Investigations are ongoing,” it said.
The republic takes a serious view of attempts to enter or depart Singapore illegally.
Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure are a fine of up to $1,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
For engaging in the business of conveying prohibited immigrants out of Singapore, offenders will face a jail term of two to five years and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
ICA noted that the vehicles used in such offences were liable to be forfeited.
— NNN-BERNAMA