Man caught trying to sneak woman out of Singapore

Man caught trying to sneak woman out of Singapore
By Lin Jiamei | Posted: 27 May 2010 1709 hrs
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SINGAPORE : A man who ran up more than S$10,000 in gambling debts has been caught for trying to smuggle a woman in his car boot through the customs checkpoint.

The 58-year-old man was driving a grey Singapore-registered car through the Woodlands Checkpoint at about 6am on Wednesday.

He panicked after he was directed to the Duty Office for checks. Immigration officers found a 41-year-old Chinese woman crouched in his car boot.

Both of them were arrested on the spot. Further investigations revealed that the driver was helping a Malaysian man to bring the woman out of Singapore. Upon the successful attempt, he would be paid S$800.

The woman wanted to return to China as she could not get a job in Singapore. If found guilty, both the driver and the woman could be jailed up to six months, caned or fined. - CNA/ms

Chinese woman tries to sneak out of S'pore in boot


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</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="content_subtitle" align="left"> Fri, May 28, 2010

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Chinese woman tries to sneak out of S'pore in boot <!-- TITLE : end--> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3" height="15">

</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="3" class="bodytext_10pt"> <!-- CONTENT : start --> A 58-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested for attempting to smuggle a 41-year-old Chinese woman - who was found inside his car boot - out of Singapore. Early on Wednesday morning, the man drove up to an immigration booth at the Woodlands Checkpoint for immigration clearance. After the officer directed him to the Duty Office for further checks, the man became agitated and repeatedly asked for the reason for the checks. He also refused to wind down his car windows after being instructed by officers.

Sensing something was amiss, officers opened the boot of his grey, Singapore-registered car where the woman was found crouching inside the otherwise empty boot. Both were arrested immediately. During preliminary investigations, the man admitted to abetting the illegal departure of the woman, who wanted to return to China as she could not find employment in Singapore. He said he was approached by a Malaysian man named 'Chew' to help convey illegal offenders out of Singapore. He agreed, as he needed to pay gambling debts of about $10,000. He was promised payment of $800 for each successful attempt.

He then met 'Chew' at Serangoon area, where he picked up the woman who was made to stay in the boot from Serangoon all the way till the Woodlands Checkpoint. The two are now currently under investigation for the offences. The vehicle has also been obtained and may be liable for forfeiture. 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, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
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