Singapore's ICA arrests 29 in inland operation

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officers have arrested 29 persons in an inland operation around the country, said ICA in a news release on Wednesday.

Among those arrested, 26 of them were allegedly immigration offenders from China and India. They were aged between 26 to 62 years old. Most of them had overstayed in Singapore.

As for the remaining three persons, one work permit holder was caught for being in possession of duty-unpaid cigarettes and two others were arrested for suspected harboring offences.

ICA said that Investigations are still ongoing, and stated that the ministry takes a serious view on attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally.

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, while the penalties for illegal departure is a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

The ICA suggested homeowners exercise due diligence when checking the status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure their status in Singapore is legal.

If the homeowner is found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harboring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants, he or she may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than six months and not more than two years and a fine not exceeding 6,000 Singapore dollars. Endi