18 immigration offenders from China & Vietnam arrested at Geylang

SINGAPORE - A total of 18 immigration offenders were arrested at Geylang today.

Officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted an inland enforcement operation at Geylang, where they found overstayers, aged between 35 and 51 years old. Among those arrested, 17 of them were males and there was 1 female. 

The immigration offenders are believed to be from China and Vietnam, according to ICA in a statement to the media on Thursday.

Investigations against them are currently taking place, said ICA. 

The ICA says it takes a serious view of any attempt to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally.

Anyone caught overstaying or entering the country illegally may be jailed up to six months and face three strokes of the cane. For any attempt of departing illegally, the penalty is a fine of up to $2,000, a maximum jail term of six months or both.

Homeowners are advised by the ICA to be digilent in checking the status of prospective foreign tenants to ensure that their status in Singapore is legal.

People who wish to rent their premises to foreigners are required to conduct three mandatory checks:

(1) Check his/her original immigration/work pass;

(2) Cross-check the particulars on his/her pass against the particulars on his/her original passport;

(3) Verify the validity of his/her pass by checking with the issuing authority.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg