Two Malaysians arrested for attempting to smuggle Bangladeshi national out of Singapore

Two women were arrested on Monday (5 August) for smuggling a 31-year-old Bangladeshi national, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) stated in a press release on Tuesday. ICA stated that its officers stopped a departing Malaysia-registered car for checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint at around 8.20 pm. The car was driven by a 28-year-old Malaysian woman and she was accompanied by a 33-year-old female Malaysian passenger.

While conducting checks, ICA officers found a man hiding in the car boot. The officers immediately placed the man and the two women under arrest. The authority stated that the illegal passenger was not in possession of any travel document. Investigations are ongoing. ICA stressed that it 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 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 between two to five years and a minimum of three strokes of the cane. The vehicles used in such offences are liable to be forfeited. "Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. The ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands," the authority said.