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8 travellers found making false declarations to opt out of dedicated SHN facilities

A general view of the vehicle drop-off point at Singapore Changi Airport's terminal 2, which is set to suspend operations for 18 months from May 1, 2020, as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic impacts the aviation sector, in Singapore on April 30, 2020. (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP) (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Changi Airport. (PHOTO: Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE — Eight travellers into Singapore were found to have made false declarations in their applications to opt out of serving their COVID-19 Stay-Home Notices (SHNs) at dedicated facilities.

In a media release on Thursday (19 November), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that of these travellers, four are Singaporeans, two are permanent residents and two are long-term pass holders.

They had arrived from South Korea and Thailand between 5 and 12 November. Prior to their arrival, they had applied to opt out of serving their SHN at dedicated facilities, and to instead serve them at their respective places of residence.

In their applications, they had declared that they would be occupying their places of residence alone, or only with household members with the same travel history and serving SHN of the same duration.

Between 6 and 13 November, enforcement officers conducted checks at their declared places of residence and found them residing with household members who were not serving SHN.

These eight travellers were conveyed to dedicated SHN facilities, and their cases have been handed over to the police for investigations, and potentially prosecution in court.

If found guilty, ICA will review the immigration status of the four non-Singaporeans, with a view to revocation of their PR status, or cancelling or shortening the validity of their re-entry permit and/or long-term passes.

As a precautionary measure, the household members who were not on SHN have already been issued with a SHN.

Monitoring devices for those serving SHNs outside facilities

Since 11 August, all travellers serving SHN outside of dedicated facilities are required to wear an electronic monitoring device throughout their SHN period. With this surveillance regime, travellers from selected countries/regions are allowed to serve their SHNs at suitable places of residence if they fulfil the following criteria:

  • they have not travelled to any other country/region apart from the selected countries/regions in the 14 consecutive days prior to entering Singapore;

  • The travellers are occupying their respective places of residence alone, or only with household members who share the same travel history and are serving SHNs of the same duration.

The public can report information about anyone who fails to comply with SHN requirements to ICA online or call 6812-5555.

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