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https://mothership.sg/2025/09/china-woman-overstayed-singapore/

News

Chloe Loh
A 60-year-old Chinese national, Yu Zefang (transliterated), was sentenced to six months' jail and a fine of S$2,000 on Sep. 1 for overstaying her visa for more than 28 years.
Lianhe Zaobao reported that Yu had obtained a student's pass in April 1995 and renewed it regularly in the beginning.
A student's pass is required by foreigners who have been accepted by an educational institute to pursue full-time studies in Singapore.
However, after Yu's pass expired in September 1996, she continued to stay in the country.
In October 1996, Yu was arrested for drug use and had her passport confiscated.
She was then granted a special pass by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Oct. 17, 1996, pending the outcome of the investigation.
A special pass legalises a foreigner's stay in Singapore and is issued for specific purposes, such as assisting in investigation.
While on the pass, Yu was expected to report regularly to the immigration department but failed to do so.
She was also nowhere to be found when her permit expired later that year in November.
According to Zaobao, Yu's daughter, who was eight years old at the time, had applied for a student pass in January 1997, allowing her to stay in Singapore legally to study.
In order to stay and take care of her daughter, Yu decided to stay in the country illegally.
Her daughter was later granted permanent resident status in May 2008, though the court did not reveal the details of her application for permanent residency.
According to charge sheets, Yu remained in Singapore for a period of 28 years, one month and 11 days, a total of 10,268 days, from Nov. 20 1996 to Dec. 30 2024, after the special pass issued to her in 1996 expired.
Zaobao reported that this case is likely the longest-ever overstayer incident and Yu chose to surrender to ICA on Dec. 30, 2024 as she wanted to return to China.
According to Zaobao, Yu appeared in court on Sep. 1, accompanied by her family and friends and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Yu's lawyer pleaded for leniency, stating that Yu regretted her actions and chose to plead guilty.
However, the judge stated that Yu had overstayed in Singapore intentionally for a long period of time.
Top photo via Google Maps & Canva
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News
Woman, 60, from China, overstayed in S'pore for more than 28 years, sentenced to 6 months' jail
She was also fined S$2,000.
Chloe Loh

September 02, 2025, 12:03 PM

A 60-year-old Chinese national, Yu Zefang (transliterated), was sentenced to six months' jail and a fine of S$2,000 on Sep. 1 for overstaying her visa for more than 28 years.
Previously arrested in Oct 1996
Lianhe Zaobao reported that Yu had obtained a student's pass in April 1995 and renewed it regularly in the beginning.
A student's pass is required by foreigners who have been accepted by an educational institute to pursue full-time studies in Singapore.
However, after Yu's pass expired in September 1996, she continued to stay in the country.
In October 1996, Yu was arrested for drug use and had her passport confiscated.
She was then granted a special pass by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Oct. 17, 1996, pending the outcome of the investigation.
A special pass legalises a foreigner's stay in Singapore and is issued for specific purposes, such as assisting in investigation.
While on the pass, Yu was expected to report regularly to the immigration department but failed to do so.
She was also nowhere to be found when her permit expired later that year in November.
Stayed in Singapore to take care of daughter
According to Zaobao, Yu's daughter, who was eight years old at the time, had applied for a student pass in January 1997, allowing her to stay in Singapore legally to study.
In order to stay and take care of her daughter, Yu decided to stay in the country illegally.
Her daughter was later granted permanent resident status in May 2008, though the court did not reveal the details of her application for permanent residency.
Yu overstayed in Singapore for more than 10,000 days
According to charge sheets, Yu remained in Singapore for a period of 28 years, one month and 11 days, a total of 10,268 days, from Nov. 20 1996 to Dec. 30 2024, after the special pass issued to her in 1996 expired.
Zaobao reported that this case is likely the longest-ever overstayer incident and Yu chose to surrender to ICA on Dec. 30, 2024 as she wanted to return to China.
Sentenced on Sep. 1
According to Zaobao, Yu appeared in court on Sep. 1, accompanied by her family and friends and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Yu's lawyer pleaded for leniency, stating that Yu regretted her actions and chose to plead guilty.
However, the judge stated that Yu had overstayed in Singapore intentionally for a long period of time.
Top photo via Google Maps & Canva
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Woman, 60, from China, overstayed in S'pore for more than 28 years, sentenced to 6 months' jail

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