The Police Coast Guard (PCG) has arrested a 44-year-old Indonesian man, a 41-year-old Indonesian woman and a 39-year-old Malaysian man for unlawful entry into Singapore.
On 12 January 2020 at 9.13pm, PCG detected an unnumbered fiberglass boat at the sea off Eastern Buoy, Singapore with the aid of surveillance equipment. Two persons were observed to have jumped off the boat while one remained on board. Shortly after, a man who had jumped into the waters was observed to have swum back to the boat.
PCG immediately intercepted the boat and arrested an Indonesian man and woman who were on board. A Malaysian man, believed to be the boatman, was later detained and arrested at the vicinity of the sea off Eastern Buoy.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the two Indonesian nationals had intended to enter Malaysia illegally via the boat steered by the Malaysian man to seek employment. The three of them were arrested for entering Singapore unlawfully under the Immigration Act, Chapter 133. The Malaysian man is also being investigated for engaging in the business or trade of conveying illegal immigrant to Singapore under Section 57(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 133.
They will be charged in court on 14 January 2020 with illegal entry into Singapore under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, Chapter 133. Any person found guilty shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months and caning with not less than three strokes. Anyone who engages in the business or trade of conveying illegal immigrant to Singapore shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years and caning with not less than three strokes.
Commander of the Police Coast Guard, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Cheang Keng Keong said: “PCG does not tolerate any illegal activities in Singapore waters. PCG will continue to work closely with other agencies to safeguard our waters and sea borders against crime and security threats, including unauthorised entry into and departure from Singapore”.
Photo of the unauthorised boat which was intercepted
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
13 January 2020 @ 9:20 PM