S'pore orders illegal immigrants jailed, caned

The men were among 300 people charged with immigration offences on Saturday. They bring to nearly 800 the number of people arrested last week in a drive against illegal immigrants, who have been flooding into Singapore as the regional economies deteriorate.

In a Subordinate Court session that ran about four hours longer than normal, the 117 men admitted entering Singapore illegally or overstaying in the country, the Times said. They were sentenced to up to six weeks in jail and four to six strokes of the cane.

Three women from China who had overstayed were each jailed for a month and fined S$2000 (US$1242). Singapore does not allow the caning of women.

Those not dealt with on Saturday among the nine bus-loads of people brought to the court were remanded in police custody for a week while their entry status was checked and investigations made to see if they had criminal records.

The prosecution asked for deterrent sentences, saying there has been an alarming increase in the number of illegal immigrants in Singapore, the newspaper said.

"We are literally a nation besieged and a lot of manpower and resources have to be deployed to block their entry until the waves of such immigrants subside," the unidentified Singapore prosecutor was quoted as saying.

"With the large numbers of convicted immigration offenders and as the further influx of such offenders continues and escalates, there will be a problem of overcrowding the prisons," he said.

Singapore has recently intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration, fearing the problem could worsen as regional economies deteriorate. It particularly fears an influx of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Indonesia.

Migration experts say up to two million illegal immigrants are working in Southeast Asia, and traffic in illegal workers could explode as the region's economic crisis drags on.

Nationals from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Thailand and China appeared in court on Saturday.

Penalties:

• For attempting to enter Singapore illegally, a person will be jailed for between three months and two years. He will also face a fine of up to $4,000.
• For entering Singapore illegally, the punishment is a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane. Those who cannot be caned can be fined up to $6,000.
• Boat operators convicted of abetting illegal immigrants to enter Singapore can be jailed for between six months and two years. They can also be fined up to $6,000.
• Boat operators convicted of engaging in the business of conveying illegal immigrants to Singapore face a jail term of between two and five years and at least three strokes of the cane.