Leader of human smuggling syndicate convicted
By Shaffiq Alkhatib, Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 08 September 2011 0937 hrs
SINGAPORE: A Malaysian man was convicted Wednesday of smuggling illegal immigrants by boat from Malaysia into Singapore on countless occasions.
63-year old Law Song was a human smuggler for nearly 10 years. He is believed to have smuggled about 200 illegal immigrants - mainly China nationals - between 2007 and 2009 alone.
The odd job labourer was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years' jail after he pleaded guilty to six of the 12 charges against him.
He was part of a syndicate and police said he held a position near the top of the smuggling network. He is the second syndicate leader arrested within six months this year.
Law has been described by his clients as a man who looks frail but with an iron heart. He will lure potential illegal immigrants into Singapore knowing the risks of them being arrested is high. The smuggler will also not allow any illegal immigrants to back off once a deal is struck between them.
Law received about S$2,000 from each illegal immigrant before sending them off in groups of three to four per trip using speedboats.
Three Malaysian boat operators were hired between 2007 and 2009 to ferry the illegal immigrants from Johor. They have already been dealt with in court and were sentenced to between four weeks' and six years' jail.
Law's latest case was in May this year. He landed four illegal immigrants along the northern coastline of Punggol Timor. This was detected by the Police Coast Guard patrolling within the area.
The arrest of the four illegal immigrants was significant as they were able to provide critical information on Law.
Malaysian police helped with Law's arrest. A warrant of arrest was issued against him in March, and Malaysian authorities arrested him on July 18 in Kuala Lumpur. Law was handed over to Singapore police four days later.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Sam Tee said Law's arrest was significant: "Over the last 6 months, we have smashed two illegal immigrant syndicates operating in China and Malaysia. With these arrests it sends a very clear warning to the perpetrators that there's no safe haven.
"No matter where you operate from, the Police Coast Guard has the means and resolve to identify and apprehend them back to Singapore to face the law."
To deter potential smugglers, police have deployed floating sea barriers along hotspots. These barriers have helped reduced smuggling activities by some 20 per cent.
DAC Tee said: "For those areas where we can't put the floating sea barriers, we have a layered security approach.
"In the waters, our patrol boats are deployed. They will guard and prevent the intruders from dashing through our waters. Should they be unable to intercept them in the waters, at the coastline we have our coastal security patrol force, whereby they will respond swiftly and intercept them on land."
Over the next three years, the Police Coast Guard will be deploying an additional 28 kilometres of land and sea barriers to further deter smuggling of illegal immigrants into Singapore.
- CNA/cc/ac
