(Singapore, 29th) An Indonesian man, previously barred from entering Singapore, took the "wrong path" again: he boarded a boat from Batam Island to Singapore waters, jumped into the sea and swam to shore to work illegally and sell contraband cigarettes. After hiding for three and a half months, he was caught, sentenced to 21 months and 27 days in jail, and given 11 strokes of the cane.
The Indonesian defendant, Muhita (43 years old), pleaded guilty to one charge under the Immigration Act and one charge of breaching a remission order.
Court details revealed that the defendant had previously been convicted of offenses under the Immigration Act in Singapore and was deported back to Batam, Indonesia, on October 9 last year. He also received written notification at the time stating that he was barred from entering Singapore from that day onward.
The case further revealed that, unrepentant after being deported, the defendant decided to illegally enter Singapore again to work "under the table" in late January this year. He found an agent and paid 8 million Indonesian rupiah (about RM2,087) to arrange his illegal entry.
The agent then arranged for a boatman in Batam. On a late night before February 14, the defendant met the boatman, boarded a speedboat, and stayed crouched throughout the journey to avoid patrol detection.
The boatman drove the speedboat toward Singapore, and within two to three hours they had reached Singapore's waters, clearly seeing Changi's shoreline.
The defendant then jumped from the speedboat into the sea and swam toward Singapore's shore. Several minutes later, he made it ashore and managed to slip into Singapore without being noticed.
He later engaged in illegal work locally, including selling contraband cigarettes. He was in hiding for three and a half months, until May 29 this year, when he was checked by authorities near Woodlands Road.
At that time, he was unable to provide proof of legal residency and was consequently arrested. After his arrest, police used fingerprint matching to confirm his identity.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, in response to inquiries, stated that they take a stern approach against illegal entry. According to the Immigration Act, anyone entering Singapore without a valid pass is committing an offense and, upon conviction, faces up to six months imprisonment and at least three strokes of the cane.
For those who re-enter unlawfully after deportation without written approval from authorities—a repeat offense—the sentence is at least one year and up to three years in prison upon conviction.
The Indonesian defendant, Muhita (43 years old), pleaded guilty to one charge under the Immigration Act and one charge of breaching a remission order.
Court details revealed that the defendant had previously been convicted of offenses under the Immigration Act in Singapore and was deported back to Batam, Indonesia, on October 9 last year. He also received written notification at the time stating that he was barred from entering Singapore from that day onward.
The case further revealed that, unrepentant after being deported, the defendant decided to illegally enter Singapore again to work "under the table" in late January this year. He found an agent and paid 8 million Indonesian rupiah (about RM2,087) to arrange his illegal entry.
The agent then arranged for a boatman in Batam. On a late night before February 14, the defendant met the boatman, boarded a speedboat, and stayed crouched throughout the journey to avoid patrol detection.
The boatman drove the speedboat toward Singapore, and within two to three hours they had reached Singapore's waters, clearly seeing Changi's shoreline.
The defendant then jumped from the speedboat into the sea and swam toward Singapore's shore. Several minutes later, he made it ashore and managed to slip into Singapore without being noticed.
He later engaged in illegal work locally, including selling contraband cigarettes. He was in hiding for three and a half months, until May 29 this year, when he was checked by authorities near Woodlands Road.
At that time, he was unable to provide proof of legal residency and was consequently arrested. After his arrest, police used fingerprint matching to confirm his identity.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, in response to inquiries, stated that they take a stern approach against illegal entry. According to the Immigration Act, anyone entering Singapore without a valid pass is committing an offense and, upon conviction, faces up to six months imprisonment and at least three strokes of the cane.
For those who re-enter unlawfully after deportation without written approval from authorities—a repeat offense—the sentence is at least one year and up to three years in prison upon conviction.