Singapore convicts three men for smuggling overstayer

Singapore has convicted three men who attempted to smuggle a Bangladeshi man out of the country via Woodlands Checkpoint, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Tuesday.

The immigration offender Md Islam Md Haris Madbar, who overstayed in Singapore, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and five strokes of the cane, Xinhua news agency reported.

Md Islam was found crouching on the floor of the rear passenger seat in a Malaysian-registered saloon car on February 14, 2016, said ICA.

Malaysian Chee Tian Hao who tried to convey Md Islam out of Singapore was arrested on the same day and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and three strokes of the cane.

Following the arrests, another Malaysian and one Singaporean were arrested and convicted for assisting Md Islam to leave Singapore.

ICA said Malaysian Mohamed Haniffa Sawulmaid was sentenced to eight months in jail while Singaporean Jumali B Yusof was convicted and sentenced to two years and six weeks' imprisonment.

The authority stressed that it takes a serious view of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally.

"Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's safety and security. The security checks are critical to our nation's security," ICA added.

Under Singapore's 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.

The penalties for engaging in the business of conveying prohibited immigrants into and out of Singapore is a jail term of not less than two years and not more than five years and caning of at least three strokes.

--IANS

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