Man hidden in luggage compartment of bus arrested at Tuas checkpoint
A man who was hidden in the luggage compartment of a bus and a bus driver who was attempting to smuggle him out of Singapore have been arrested, said the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Monday (15 October).
Both men will be charged in court on Tuesday for committing offences under the Immigration Act.
The 37-year-old Malaysian bus driver had appeared “visibly nervous” after ICA officers stopped the Malaysia-registered vehicle on Sunday at about 9.20pm for checks at the Tuas checkpoint.
Upon conducting checks on the vehicle, the officers found a 25-year-old Indian national in the luggage compartment.
Preliminary investigations showed that the driver was offered $700 by an unknown agent if he were to successfully bring the Indian national, who was due to appear in court for a separate case, to Malaysia.
Under the Immigration Act, those found guilty of overstaying in or illegally entering Singapore can be jailed a maximum of six months and caned a minimum of three strokes. Those found illegally departing can face a maximum jail term of six months, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both.
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